Two men on a fishing trip pick up a psychopathic fugitive with an intense hatred of humanity in this relentlessly suspenseful thriller directed by Ida Lupino and written by Daniel Mainwaring (Invasion of the Body Snatchers). Ray Collins (Edmund O'Brien) and Gilbert Bowen (Frank Lovejoy) are on their way to a relaxing weekend on the lake when they make the fateful mistake of giving a ride to Emmett Myers (William Tallman), a ruthless killer on the run from the cops. As a young child Myers was severely abused, and now he's ...
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Two men on a fishing trip pick up a psychopathic fugitive with an intense hatred of humanity in this relentlessly suspenseful thriller directed by Ida Lupino and written by Daniel Mainwaring (Invasion of the Body Snatchers). Ray Collins (Edmund O'Brien) and Gilbert Bowen (Frank Lovejoy) are on their way to a relaxing weekend on the lake when they make the fateful mistake of giving a ride to Emmett Myers (William Tallman), a ruthless killer on the run from the cops. As a young child Myers was severely abused, and now he's determined to make the world suffer for the atrocities committed against him. An unrepentant sadist, Myers repeatedly uses his faulty eye (which is permanently open) to trick his two terrified victims into believing they have gained the upper hand in the tense stand-off, only to turn the tables on them at the last second. Inspired by the horrific crimes of real life mass murderer William Cook, who was eventually executed in San Quentin. Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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Gordon Barnes, Natividad Vacío, Clark Howat, Jean Del Val, Wendell Niles, Sam Hayes, José Torvay, William Talman, Frank... Good. 1953 Run time: 71. Buy with confidence-Satisfaction Guaranteed! Satisfaction 100% guaranteed.
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Gordon Barnes, Natividad Vacío, Clark Howat, Jean Del Val, Wendell Niles, Sam Hayes, José Torvay, William Talman, Frank... Very good. 1953 Run time: 71. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Ida Lupino (1918 -- 1995) was a renowned film actress who became interested in directing in the 1940s. In 1952, Lupino became the first woman to direct a noir film with this 1953 release, "The Hitch--Hiker". Fifty years later, the movie remains the only woman-directed film noir. "The Hitch-Hiker" also is unusual in that it is set on lonely desert roads and small towns rather than in the urban areas of New York City or California favored for noir film. The movie has no femme fatale or other sexual interest. All the important characters are men.
The film is about two long-time friends and blue collar workers, Roy Collins (Edmond O'Brien) and Gil Bowen (Frank Lovejoy) who take a rare fishing trip vacation leaving wives and kids at home for a few days. On the road the pick up a hitch-hiker, Emmett Myers (William Talman) who immediately puts them under a gun. Myers is a serial killer. The opening frames of the movie show him killing an earlier victim. The police have a manhunt across several states. Myers is psychopathic, sadistic, and utterly ruthless. He lacks the use of an eye. He forces Collins and Bowen to drive him to the coast of Mexico where he plans on catching a ferry and making a getaway.
The plot of the film is predictable, but the movie works in creating dramatic tension. The acting by the three major characters, particularly Talman as the killer, is taut. The story unfolds slowly as the killer forces the men to drive down deserted Mexican roads through small towns and an occasional small store or gas station. The killer forces the men to turn on the radio to learn news about the efforts of the police towards his capture.
Besides the acting, the photography and scenery make "The Hitch-Hiker" work. The movie creates a sense of claustrophobia as the car travels alone, with the pair at the point of a gun. The noir component includes the driving and stops at night at desolate places, the flat desert scenery interspersed with mountains, the stops along the way, and the psychology of the killer and his prospective victims. The two men differ about how to react to their desperate situation but ultimately work together. With all its chilling noir elements, the film celebrates the power of friendship. The movie is short at about 73 minutes which allows it to maintain and to develop its focus and intensity.
In 1998, "The Hitch-Hiker" was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry, an honor awarded to "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" films. The movie is in the public domain and easily accessible. It was shown as part of a celebration of noir film held in October at the American Film Institute in Washington, D.C. This is an excellent film for those with an interest in film noir.
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