Reel Memories No. 100 – Life Boat

By William V. Reynolds
Columnist

Alfred Hitchcock has long been one of my favorite directors. He began his American career
before World War II and it was during this war that he directed the film I want to discuss today.
Lifeboat (1944) was not one of Hitchcock’s most popular films. As we will show you
momentarily, it involved a controversial subject for its time. That’s usually enough to enhance or
decline a director’s work.
The original story written by John Steinbeck, who was himself considered a controversial figure,
is done in classic Hitchcock style. Hitchcock was famous for trying new methods of filming. In
this one the entire story unfolds in a lifeboat. According to resources that I’ve read, Hitchcock
planned his camera angles ahead of time using a tub of water and a model.
The controversy around the film arises from its subject. During World War II an American ship
with several American and British civilians aboard is torpedoed by a German U-boat. The U-boat
is also sunk in the confrontation. The survivors of the battle managed to get aboard one of the
lifeboat’s left over from the American ship. Later they take aboard a survivor from the U-boat.
An argument develops and John Kovac (John Hodiak) demands that the German be thrown out
and allowed to drown. Garrett (Hume Cronyn) maintains that the German has prisoner of war
status and he is allowed to stay.
The main plot of the story involves a struggle between Kovac and the German, Willi (Walter
Slezak), to take charge of the lifeboat. Willi finally prevails and steers the lifeboat on a course
that will take them to a German supply ship. Before the supply ship can pick them up in its
launch, an Allied warship sinks the supply boat.
The film featured Tallulah Bankhead as Constance “Connie” Porter. Other players in the drama
who would become well-known included Henry Hull (whose credits included a role in Jesse
James (1939)) as Charles D. Rittenhouse and Hume Cronyn (who would become famous as a costar
with Jessica Tandy) as Stanley Garrett.
The film received a 1944 Academy award nomination for “Best Black-and-White
Cinematography” for Glenn MacWilliams, “Best Original Story” for John Steinbeck, and “Best
Director” for Alfred Hitchcock. Tallulah Bankhead won the New York Film Critics Circle
Award for “Best Actress” And the film was named one of the 10 best of 1944.
Today we give a reel memories salute to Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat.
William V. Reynolds is the author of “Murder in the Okefenokee” available on
doubleeagleenterprises.com and Amazon.com or ask for it at your favorite bookstore.