For the Love of Film (Noir) Blogathon: The Hitch-Hiker

A scene from the 1953 film noir The Hitch-Hiker. (l to r) Frank Lovejoy, William Talman and Edmond O'Brien

A female directed film noir. A rare occurrence. Stripped down camera work, sparse cast with no femme fatale or dark urban setting - The Hitch-Hiker, directed and co-written by Ida Lupino - is a breed apart. Though it won't appeal to everybody because of its claustrophobic atmosphere, this film tells the story of two fishermen who pick up a psychotic escaped convict who tells them that he intends to murder them when the ride is over. It's one of those films that makes you think, "What would I do in that situation?" Everyday life can be pretty challenging, but it does not bring with it the complexities of extreme moral decisions. Would you, can you kill to defend yourself? Would you escape a killer if it meant leaving your friend behind? How do you react when a gun is pointed at you? To take this film on face value does it a disservice. Placing it in the context of post-WWII America gives the story power beyond a causal viewing. The two friends are vets, but have settled into civilian life far removed from their war experiences. But, violence once again intrudes upon their lives (typical of characters in the world of Film Noir). This brings me back to my original point - in the same situation that face these two friends - what would you do?

Watch The Hitch-Hiker

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Ida Lupino at IMDB