Lifeboat (1944)

Lifeboat - 1944

Our next film is 1944's "Lifeboat", the story about a group of survivors of a German U-boat attack clinging to their very existence in the middle of the ocean during World War II.

The film's cast includes Tallulah Bankhead, William Bendix, Walter Slezak, Mary Anderson, John Hodiak, Henry Hull, Hume Croyn, Canada Lee, and Heather Angel.

Following an attack by a German U-boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, all that is left of a ship is one lifeboat and a bunch of flotsam floating in the water.  Survivors of the attack begin to make their way to the lifeboat one by one.

We have reporter Constance "Connie" Porter, who was the first in the lifeboat.  She comes under suspicion from the rest of the refugees when it is realized that most of her belongings are on the boat.  Not helping the situation is the fact that she also speaks fluent German.

Mrs. Higley is pulled from the water clinging tightly to something.  The survivors are horrified to see that it is her dead baby.  Everyone's sympathies lie with Mrs. Higley as she fights to retain her grip on sanity.

Another survivor is wealthy industrialist Charles Rittenhouse.  He takes it upon himself to divide up the duties of those that are able.  The plan is to make their way to Bermuda where they can seek help.

Gus Smith is also picked up by the boat.  He's injured and gangrene threatens his leg.  All he can do is sit back and pray for a miracle.

Army nurse Alice MacKenzie is also on board.  She has a sweet nature and quickly becomes a favorite and love interest of one of the other passengers.

A crewman from the engine room, John Kovac, is also picked up.  He brings a sense of leadership to the group.  He also proves to be a verbal sparring partner of Connie Porter.  He isn't afraid to tell her what he thinks of her.

Joe is a steward from the ship that was sunk by the Germans.  It was he who helped Connie get her things on board the lifeboat.

And Sparks Garrett is a British radio man also counted among the survivors.  He bonds with our Army nurse and the two fall in love while trying to co-exist with the rest of the group.

Our last survivor is Willy, a German from the U-boat which was also sunk.  He's not done with his dirty work yet.  We also find out that he was the captain of the U-boat.

There's a lot of heart-wrenching moments on the lifeboat.  But there's also a few lighthearted ones as well, such as this scene where Connie allows the group to use her diamond bracelet as bait so they can catch a fish to keep from starving.  As the bracelet is attached to the fishing line and thrown over the side, Connie says, "I can recommend the bait.  I ought to know...I bit on it myself."

Cast rundown:

   Tallulah Bankhead............................Constance "Connie" Porter

   William Bendix.................................Gus Smith

   Walter Slezak...................................Willy

   Mary Anderson.................................Alice MacKenzie

   John Hodiak.....................................John Kovac

   Henry Hull.......................................Charles Rittenhouse

   Hume Croyn.....................................Stanley "Sparks" Garrett

   Canada Lee......................................Joe

   Heather Angel...................................Mrs. Higley

And that's it for Lifeboat.  The film wasn't very well received when it was released in part because of the sympathetic depiction of the U-boat captain.  As time has passed, it has been called one of Hitchcock's most underrated films.

We even have a director cameo.  In a boat with just nine people, Hitchcock manages to sneak himself in.  Here he is seen in a newspaper ad for an "obesity slayer".

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