The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

Director:

Ida Lupino

Writers:

Collier Young (screenplay) and
Ida Lupino (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 October 1953 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

When was the last time you invited death into your car?

Plot:

Two fishermen pick up a psychotic escaped convict who tells them that he intends to murder them when the ride is over.

Plot Keywords:

Escaped Convict | Hostage | Fishing Trip | Murder | Road Trip

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Edmond O'Brien	...	Roy Collins
Frank Lovejoy	...	Gilbert Bowen
William Talman	...	Emmett Myers
José Torvay	...	Captain Alvarado (as Jose Torvay)
Sam Hayes	...	Himself - Radio Broadcaster
Wendell Niles	...	Himself (as Wendel Niles)
Jean Del Val	...	Inspector General
Clark Howat	...	Government Agent
Natividad Vacío	...	Jose (as Natividad Vacio)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | Finland:(Banned) (1953) | USA:Approved (PCA #15999) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Filmakers, The

Trivia:

Based upon an incident that happened in California in the early 1950s. A man named Billy Cook murdered a family of five, including three children, and then killed a traveling salesman. He then kidnapped two hunters and took them across the border into Mexico, intending to kill them, too, but before he could he was captured by Mexican police and subsequently extradited to the US, where he was tried for the murders, convicted, and died in the gas chamber at San Quentin on Dec. 12, 1952.

Quotes:

Emmett Myers: My folks were tough. When I was born, they took one look at this puss of mine and told me to get lost.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Fascinating thriller with a terrific performance from William Talman.

Supposedly the only Film Noir directed by a woman (Ida Lupino of 'High Sierra' and 'On Dangerous Ground'), 'The Hitch-Hiker' is a fascinating thriller that holds your attention from start to finish. Edmond O'Brien ('D.O.A.') and Frank Lovejoy ('in A Lonely Place') play two buddies on a road trip who pick up a hitch-hiker (William Talman, best remembered as Hamilton Berger on the old "Perry Mason" TV show). BIG MISTAKE! He is actually notorious psycho killer Emmett Myers. Talman gives a terrific performance as Myers, a real nasty piece of work with a bum eye so you never know if he's asleep or awake. He holds the men hostage, bullies and provokes them, even uses them as target practice. We've seen many similar plots over the years but I thought this was a fresh and unpredictable. Lupino's direction really suits the material, the tension builds throughout, and Talman is unforgettable. If you like thrillers track this one down. Highly recommended.