The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

Two fishing buddies unwittingly give a lift to a serial killer who forces them to drive across the border at gunpoint in this compact thriller directed by Ida Lupino. A former film noir star, Lupino brings several interesting directing touches to the film such as the initial obscuring of the hitchhiker's face until he produces his gun, but it is William Talman's unhinged performance as the hitcher that really makes the film. He has a creepy calmness to him as he holds the two men hostage like something that he has done millions of times before, and his face more than his gun oozes menace. Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy are, on the other hand, dull as his two victims; the film momentarily brings up something about them lying to their wives about their trip, but the most part, their function in the script is simply to (unsuccessfully) attempt to escape and evade again and again. The film grows a tad repetitive as it goes on, and with constant cutaways to the US and Mexican police investigating the matter, it never really maintains any tension that it builds. The film is also a less thrilling experience since we constantly know that the police are on top of things and have a plan of what to do, and the despair of the fishing buddies never really resonates since the movie provides a strong sense that everything will work out. Still, the film is certainly worth a look for Talman's performance. His big screen career was curiously short, spending most of his years in television; one can only wonder what may have been had 'The Hitch-Hiker' been more widely seen in its day.

-The Hitch-Hiker (1953) by John Vizzusi"Marking the 4th Major Motion Picture for Superstar Ida Lupino as a Director, she paved the way for Females in a Industry dominated by men! Lupino also pens this strange and true tale of a serial killer on the loose. With a entire Male Cast, Ida sets forth on-loan by Warners to RKO, she shot the entire Picture on-location. Beginning to finish a breathtaking 71 minutes, Lupino comes in under-budget and several days early. Hollywood forgetful of its hugely successful past of Female Directors and Screenwriters such as the incredible Francis Marion (The Big House), Lupino is scorned upon and RKO acts like they are hiding from this production. A Limited Release does not help box office totals although the Movie does make its money back. She had a very slim budget of $400,000 and had to invent rotoscope camera movements for the Camera Automobile shots because of lack of equipment available. Surely influenced by the drama she herself displayed on the screen as the Star opposite Humphrey Bogart in "High Sierra" she Directs with complete confidence and a totally believable natural reality driven style and turns the killer Emmet Myers (William Talman) into one of the most vicious murderous monsters the screen had ever seen. But there is something else happening as well; -Ida gives the film a sense of purpose and sensitivity even with all the madness going on throughout...In an interview Talman recalled an incident that happened shortly after the release of The Hitch-Hiker (1953), in which he gave a chilling portrayal of escaped murderer and serial killer Emmett Meyers. He was driving his convertible in Los Angeles with the top down, and he stopped at a red light. Another driver in a convertible who was stopped next to him stared at him for a few seconds, then said, "You're the hitchhiker, right?" Talman nodded, indicating that he was. The other driver got out of his car, went over to Talman's car and slapped him across the face, then got back in his car and drove off. In recalling the story, Talman said, "You know, I never won an Academy Award but I guess that was about as close as I ever will come to one."The Hitch-Hiker is instrumental is guiding the fantastic career of Ida Lupino whom was a beloved Star of the golden era of Hollywood's Silver Screen. And moved forward to Producing and Directing right into the golden age of Television. There was nothing Lupino could not do and do well. Ida Lupino was the first woman to Direct Film Noir although the word Classic here may not totally apply to The Hitch-Hiker but for a Industry that today only employs a tragic 1% of Females we should look closer of the Film's that early Hollywood based Women Directed, Wrote and Produced. You may be surprised at what you find!

Seeing SEVEN MEN FROM NOW was a revelation to me and I immediately hunted down everything I could find by Budd Boetticher. THE HITCH-HIKER, directed brilliantly by Ida Lupino, was an even greater revelation. THE HITCH-HIKER manages, in just over an hour, and with an economy of motion that Boetticher himself probably appreciated, to tell a terrifying tale of kidnapping and murder. The stage is set early on, with the serial killer Meyers (William Talman, in an outstanding performance) murdering half a dozen people before hitching a ride with O'Brien and Lovejoy. It's clear from the moment they pick him up that their days are numbered, and in a GREAT dramatic scene late in the going, O'Brien beseeches a search plane with arms uplifted, pleading for them to land and save himself and Lovejoy. It's an unusual scene in that it shows a man in fear for his life doing what I've actually seen people in life-threatening situations DO: he begs for his life; loudly, and unashamedly. Another fascinating aspect of this movie is Talman as the killer, whose right eye never closes: his defective eye makes for some tense and even genuinely funny moments. My favorite is the scene where the two victims stare at him for quite some time trying to determine if he's actually watching them or not before eventually trying to make a run for it- only to have him open his other eye and grin as he watches them run. THE HITCH-HIKER has been ripped off a thousand times over the years, but nobody ever- EVER- did it as well as director Ida Lupino.

Two carefree young travelers make the mistake of their lives when they pick up a mysterious, and slightly psychotic, hitch-hiker who never closes his right eye -- even when he sleeps!Film Noir...why don't they make these kinds of flicks today. They are so cool.Anyway, supposedly based upon a true story.It's a relatively well done foray into film noir, with one major flaw that draws the film down half way through.If there are two strong guys and another guy with a gun and the guy with the gun tells you he's going to kill you no matter what, but not telling you when, then you really have nothing left to lose.So at some point don't you try to jump him? They have numerous opportunities. And related to this -- why does the bad guy even want the two of them around? Pleasant conversation? They are a weight to him and represent the possibility of doom for him, so why not put an end to them and go it alone?If you can put this lack of logic aside, it's a fun film.