Customer Reviews

The Hitch-Hiker

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"The Hitch-hiker" is a largely forgotten and overlooked gem in the thriller/film-noir genre. It is also Ida Lupino's best directorial effort for the big screen. For years, Lupino graced the silver screen as an actress, most notably in "They Drive by Night" and "High Sierra" (both with Bogart). In the late 1940s, Lupino formed her own production company, The Filmakers with producer/writer husband Collier Young.

The movie follows a pair of war vets, Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy who get some R and R from their wives to go fishing, and sneak off to Mexicali to troll for dames along the way. As you might well guess, they pick up even worse trouble in the form of hitchhiker Emmett Myers, played with a menacing edge by William Talman.

Myers forces the two to provide safe passage in their beat-up car down the Baja California peninsula to Santa Rosalia, where he can catch a ferry to the Mexico mainland.

The ride along the way is a harrowing trip, the suspense notched up by Young and Collier's excellent screenwriting. Daniel Mainwaring adds a lot of excellent noir dialogue in his uncredited contribution.

While O'Brien gives his usual competent good guy performance, Lovejoy and Talman really make this movie. Lovejoy gives this movie its heart: We sympathize with his character when he attempts to protect and reassure a little Mexican girl when the three stop at a dry goods store to stock up on groceries. Talman plays the killer Myers a bit off-kilter, his lean, elongated figure dominating the other two, his lazy, all-seeing eye holding them hostage while Myers yet sleeps. Talman's powerful performance looks forward to Rutger Hauer's portrayal in Robert Harmon's 1984 "The Hitcher" and Dennis Hopper in most everything he's been in since "Blue Velvet."

What most rings true with "The Hitch-hiker" is Lupino's use of actual shooting locations as opposed to set backdrops, and the cinema verite feel she gives in having her Mexican actors -- most importantly, the DF trooper who hunts down Myers -- speak in Spanish, without subtitles and without caricature. It almost has a documentary feel.

But what really makes this movie gel is RKO's sterling crew, which Lupino hired to put this movie together. One of the reasons this movie has more of a 1940s than 1950s feel is the unparalleled cinematography of Nicholas Musaraca, who was cameraman for many of RKO's best productions, most notably "Cat People" and "Out of the Past" (both directed by Jacques Tourneur). Who else but Musaraca could make a workaday Plymouth sedan appear so dominating and intimidating at it looms over the lonely dirt roads of the Mexican back country?

Musaraca's use of key lighting and deep shadows to heighten the tension really have you sitting on the edge of your seat, as does Leith Stevens' brass-heavy scoring, brimming over with trumpets as a counterpart to the car's horn and string basses portending doom with what legendary movie composer David Raksin called "fifthboding."

C. Bakaleinikoff, the great unsung conductor of RKO's soundtracks, directs with his characteristic Sturm und Drang he used in "Out of the Past" and Hitchcock's "Notorious" (1946).

Sound technicians Roy Meadows and Clem Portman mix the score, sound effects and dialogue superbly, employing a rich bass and a full, robust midrange. Characteristic of 1940s and 50s sound, you can identify every line of dialogue without any neck craning. Compare that with today's special effects extravaganzas, full of Foley effects and swoosh and clang aural graituity, in which most whispers are yet barely audible. Try as they might, today's Hollywood still can't produce a film comparable in technical consistency to the old studio system.

Personally, I rank "The Hitch-hiker" in my Top 10 favorite noir movies of all time. It belongs in such august company as "Double Indemnity," "DOA," "White Heat" and "Out of the Past."

The DVD version of the film "The Hitch-Hiker" offered for sale by the Roan Group does not play on various DVD players. Roan is aware of this problem, but does not advertise it. I have (unfortunately) purchased two copies of this DVD and in each case, the DVD freezes after the first few seconds of the standard introductory warning.

The film itself is an important noir by an important actress and director, Ida Lupino. It is well worth seeing, but buying it from the Roan Group will not necessarily give you the opportunity to view it. Buy it from KINO if you want to see it.

Sure, the script seldom rises above potboiler status and the locations are familiar from a thousand Lone Pine cowboy shoots. Still, this unpretentious little suspenser really delivers the goods that will keep you on edge. The cast of three is outstanding. Was there ever a more low-key performer than Frank Lovejoy or anyone better at representing Joe Average. Edmond O'Brien calibrates as usual, making a credible companion to the laidback Lovejoy. Then there's William Talman in his pre-Perry Mason days, scaring the heck out of everyone with his bug-eyed psycho bit -- too bad he gave up the nuthouse for TV and a steady payday. Put a gun in Talman's hand and pack all three into a tight little car traveling to nowhere and you have a good view of 1950's middle-class nightmare. Hats off to pioneering woman director Ida Lupino for getting the most out of a boilerplate special. Potential buyers could do a lot worse.

I believe Alpha Videos spent more time and money on the boxing cover of this good film noir movie than they did on the clean up of it !
The movie starts off very splotchy during the credits, cleans up a little bit
but goes in and out of bad and very bad on the sound and picture.
The ending scene is so dark, I have no idea what is going on.
Alpha should be ashamed of themselves for putting this garbage out!
I guess at this price I got what I paid for!!

William Talman (he reminds one here of a poor man's Joseph Cotten) who portrayed Hamilton Berger on television's PERRY MASON plays Emmet Myers, a psychotic killer who hitch-hikes, rides, then robs and murders his benefactors. Fleeing from the police, he meets two men on a fishing boat en route to Mexico and keeps them hostage until he can find safety south of the border...Parental hatred seemed to be much of the cause of Myer's curious personality, that coupled by a deformed right eye - which doesn't close even during sleep - makes for a creepy character indeed. Based upon an unpublished story by Daniel Mainwaring which was reportedly based upon fact, the story wasn't so much a warning to beware of hitch-hikers, but rather a study in fear which prevailed in audience pleasers of the 1950's; "thinking" people were entranced by science fiction, aliens, nuclear attacts, etc. - this made for more intellectual conversation among fifties folk. Generally regarded as being the only film noir directed by a woman, Ida Lupino's THE HITCH-HIKER is also a good example of the genre.

The only film noir directed by a woman, Ida Lupino's Hitch-Hiker benefits from her great decision to pare the movie down to its final length of 71 minutes. This makes it a tightly wound thriller that does exactly what it should---and makes you wish she had directed more films in the same genre.

Two middle class working guys go on a fishing trip and make the mistake of picking up a wacko hitch-hiker, convincingly played by William Tallman, who quickly proceeds to force the two at gunpoint to take him to a remote town in southern California where he can hide out safely, he thinks. The wacko is a convicted killer who's wanted in a few states for murdering unsuspecting motorists.

The interplay of the three characters is what gives the film its punch and is a powerful, non-cliched take on why you should never pick up a stranger. This is also one of the first American films to feature characters speaking in Spanish (although a brief scene, it lends some intrigue; the Spanish is not translated), that unfortunately contrasts with the Mexican police officials whose English is so perfect you know they're American actors.

Nevertheless, this is a great entry in the film noir canon and worthy of seeing, if not owning, if you're a film noir buff.

This is one of the most gruelling thrillers I've ever watched, it's 70 minutes of two people being psychologically tortured by a psychopath. Talman and O'Brien give excellent performances but the real shock, considering how many films I've seen him in, is Lovejoy. He gives an amazingly emotional performance that's painful to watch.

This film has been beautifully restored by the Roan group and is cheap at the price.

In The Hitch-Hiker, Ida Lupino presents a tense noir thriller that kept me engaged throughout. Released in 1953 as the second of a double bill, and not promoted as it should have been, this movie languished in movie land limbo for quite awhile.

Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy star as Roy Collins and Gilbert Bowen, respectively, two men embarking on a hunting/fishing trip. The trouble begins when they pick up a hitchhiker named Emmet Myers, played by William Talman. Turns out Myers is a sadistic killer who's being sought by numerous law enforcement agencies for a string of murders.

The tension and suspense start to build almost immediately, and are sustained throughout the movie as the men travel the southwestern deserts of California into Mexico. The men try to look for a means to escape, but Myers keeps a tight lease on the men, and due to his unpredictable nature and complete lack of remorse, they know he would kill without regard. Also, Myers has a paralyzed right eyelid which causes it never to close properly. This means he actually sleeps with one eye open, giving the appearance that he's always watching, even when he's sleeping. Very creepy!

As the manhunt for Myers increases, the pressure increases, and the men know that once Myers decides they are more of a liability than they're worth, he will dispose of them, as he tells them this every chance he gets. There was just enough character development provided for Myers in the tight script to give viewers a glimpse into what drives the man and his contempt for life in general. The three leading actors all play their parts very professionally, but Talman really sells his performance. He provided a brutal yet subtle picture of a remorseless, psychotic killer and reminded me of a coiled rattlesnake that could strike at any moment.

The oppressive desert locations, a well-written script, and taut directing work together nicely, creating a sense of anxiety and forboding right up to the end of the movie. I was surprised, but pleased with the outcome, as it didn't seem in line with other crime dramas of the time.

There were some minor flaws in the print, and I noticed the audio dropped out very briefly on two different occasions, but that took away none of my enjoyment of this film. And given the condition of the original prints, this restored version looks really great. Included is an interesting introduction by Robert Clarke, in which he details some of his experiences working with Ida Lupino.

Ida Lupino's harrowing post-noirish tale is given shoddy treatment in this release, where dark scenes are pixelated even on the smallest of monitors/screens. It ruins the entire film and is a waste of money. Remastered? From what? A copy of a copy of a copy.....this is terrible. Look elsewhere - the film is highly recommended.

This movie is proof positive that you do not need a lavish budget ,colour ,star names and a lengthy running time in order to make a quality movie.Without the "benefit" of any of the above the picture is an utter gem .

Its simple but compelling storyline sees 2 friends played by Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy on a fishing trip and they stop to pick up a hitcher ,a gaunt and slightly creepy looking man who just happens to be a killer .His victims are those unwise and unwary enough to give him a lift .He forces them at gunpoint to drive him over the border to Mexico where he proposes to make his escape from justice .He must continuue to exercise power over the 2 men while escaping the police manhunt .

Ther movie benfits from crisp monochrome location photography of the stark landscapes of the American South West and a trio of strong lead performance especially from Frank Tallman as the killer/hitcher , a man able to sleep with one eye open owing to a paralysed eye.The script is lean and economical and the direction of Ida Lupino helps make this a minor noir classic a movie without the slightest hint of superflous fleash on its taut and powerful frame .Lupino for my money was the best female director ever ,bar none and this stands as fitting tribute to her quality behind the nlens

Dont miss if you like tense well made thrillers