The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

Year: 1953

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Genres: Film-Noir, Drama, Crime

Directors: Ida Lupino

Cast: William Talman, Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy

Two friends on a fishing trip pick up a stranded motorist who turns out to be a psychopathic escaped convict. This sociopath has already murdered other good Samaritans in his efforts to evade authorities. He sadistically taunts and threatens the two men and perversely delights in telling them that he has them both marked for death sometime before the end of the trip. His destination is a ferryboat in Baja, California, which he hopes will help him get to the mainland. The hostages hope to stay alive long enough to escape or be rescued by Mexican authorities.

The Hitch-Hiker is a 1953 American thriller film noir directed by Ida Lupino, who co-wrote it with her former husband Collier Young, and starring Edmond O'Brien, William Talman and Frank Lovejoy. Based on the 1950 killing spree of Billy Cook, the film follows two friends who are taken hostage by a serial-murdering hitchhiker during an automobile trip to Mexico. Produced independently and distributed by RKO Pictures, The Hitch-Hiker was the first mainstream-released American film of its type directed by a woman. It was selected in 1998 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant." The film is in the public domain in the United States.

Sixth Lupino feature and first "Film noir" made by a woman ever. Hardly sentimental and sharp edged thriller with very modern filming. The paralysed "eyelid" thing is very clever too. more info on http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045877/

🎞️ Watch on YouTube

🔗 View on IMDb

🔗 View on Archive.org