Lifeboat - The Masters Of Cinema Series [Blu-ray] [1944]

Lifeboat by the master Alfred Hitchcock,Which is probably one of Hitchcock's lesser known films, was made in 1944, and considering it's situated on a small boat throughout the 96 minutes of the Film quite a feat really keeping the viewers interested that long. A boat get's attacked by a German U-boat and lay shipwrecked, and they come across a German survivor and questions of morality come into play; should they feed him and treat him fairly as a POW or throw him off the boat? though good job it wasn't today he'd be beaten up mugged and thrown over.The castHume Cronyn as Stanley "Sparks" GarrettMary Anderson as Alice MacKenzieTallulah Bankhead as Constance "Connie" PorterWilliam Bendix as Gus SmithWalter Slezak as WilliJohn Hodiak as John KovacHenry Hull as Charles D. "Ritt" RittenhouseHeather Angel as Mrs. HigginsCanada Lee as George "Joe" SpencerWilliam Yetter Jr. as German sailorHitchcock was even able to maintain his custom cameo this time appearing on a newspaper advert about weight loss, the film was generally well received but did come across some controversy showing the German as a likeable character which is true throughout the film, but Hitchcock does show that the German has something to hide and that he is not trust worthy but he does it subtly. And that works well. I mean come on if a German enemy soldier gets rescued by a bunch of Americans or English he's not exactly going to act all cliché villain. The film though is quite clichéd when it comes to the characters.-The Blu Ray release-well the dual edition steel book is very nice, which comes with a pretty informative 36 page booklet, special feature wiseNew high-definition transfers of Hitchcock's little-seen French-language 1944 wartime films, Bon voyage (26 minutes) and Aventure malgache (31 minutes) officially licensed from the British Film InstituteOptional English subtitles on all three films20-minute documentary on the making of Lifeboat12-minute excerpt from the legendary 1962 audio interviews between Hitchcock and François Truffaut, discussing Lifeboat and the wartime shortsPLUS: A 36-page booklet featuring archival imagery alongside new writing by critics Bill Krohn, Arthur Mas, and Martial PisaniThough the picture itself won't exactly wow you, well it is from 1944 but the picture is probably the best this film will look and is not terrible, though the 4:3 screen why the two black bars at the side are very off putting.but all in all a very good and worthy part to add to the collection .

Excellent drama about a group of passengers adrift in a lifeboat after their ship sinks. As with all Hitchcock films, highly recommended.

Weirdly had never seen this. Using illness as an excuse to watch all the classic hitch I’ve missed. Incredibly absorbing, with a stellar cast of characters. Plus, one of Hitch's best, and most inventive, cameos.

I thought that I had seen most of Hitch's output, when Amazon directed me towards this neglected gem. I had never come across it, and drawn by the names 'Hitchcock' and 'Steinbeck' in a Masters of Cinema imprime, I figured what the hell and gave it the proverbial punt.I am very glad that I did.It's a wartime release, but like the excellent 'Life and Death of Colonel Blimp' (Powell and Pressburger), it does not fit the pattern of a standard flag waver. It would have been problematic at its release, not least in certain parts of America due to the sympathetic portrayal of the single black character in the boat. The characters are disparate and stereotypical, thrown together into the social melting pot of the boat by the 'master of suspense' himself (he still managed to make his customary appearance btw, although it is a little slimmed down even by his usual standards).The performances are fine, helped by a spare Steinbeck style. Fans of Steinbeck will be rewarded in the way that the film deals with various themes that were of clear interest to the author elsewhere (small but dashed dreams, American treatment of the blacks pre-Civil Rights, etc.).As noted by other reviewers, the film throws up some interesting moral questions, not least being what to do with a saved enemy sailor complicit in the sinking of your own boat, with its concommittent loss of life? The changing power dynamic in the lifeboat also makes for interesting viewing - you cannot help but wonder what you would have done in the same circumstances, which is a strength of the film.I have now watched it a few times, and found it compelling each time, and repeat viewings are certainly rewarding.The Blu-ray print is very good, with the audio as clean as you could expect. I have yet to see the two French wartime shorts included, so I cannot comment upon them, but I'm sure that they will shed further light on the evolving Hitchcock.In sum, this represents a bit of a lost curio in the Hitchcock canon; it lacks the budget and production values of a 'Vertigo' or 'North by Northwest', but it more than stands on its own merits. Well worth a look (or three!).

This often overlooked Hitchcock film about the survivors from a torpedoed ship in WW2 who end up sharing their lifeboat with a crew member from the U-boat that sank them is a very tight little thriller. No real big "names" apart from Ms Bankhead which makes the characters even better as you are not thinking of where you have seen them before. You can feel the tension realIy building up between then as they are confined to this small boat in the middle of the ocean and running out of food and water. I bought it purely for the dvd version in this double disc, dual format package and it was well worth it. The picture quality and sound are really clear

This is a impelling wartime film based on a John Steinbeck book, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, so an excellent basis for an enjoyable and often shocking view.

Received my copy of the steelbook Lifeboat today. Amazon now send them in proper steelbook packaging to protect them. They even have a special box designed for that purpose. Picture, sound and packaging top notch. Euruka really are becoming the UK Criterion. You'll not be disappointed .Please let them do Jurassic Park at some stage...Roger Shore

Definitely recommend this title to any Hitchcock fan. Only Hitchcock can put several people on a small boat in the middle of an ocean and keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Don't miss this one!