Two friends pick up a psychopathic escaped convict who tells them that he intends to murder them when the ride is over.
The Hitch-Hiker 1953 HD | Noir film directed by Ida Lupino | Edmond O’Brien, Frank Lovejoy & William Talman
Previous Movie
Watch English Movies- Streets of New York 1939
Watch Movie Now
Movie Info
The Hitch-Hiker is a 1953 film noir directed by Ida Lupino about two fishing buddies who pick up a mysterious Hitchhiking during a trip to Mexico.
The movie was written by Robert L. Joseph, Lupino, and her husband Collier Young, based on a story by blacklisted Out of the Past screenwriter Daniel Mainwaring (who did not receive screen credit). The film is based on the true story of psychopathic murderer Billy Cook (criminal).
It is regarded as the first American mainstream film noir directed by a woman. The director of photography was RKO Pictures regular Nicholas Musuraca.
In 1998, The Hitch-Hiker was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
Plot
Two men (Edmond O’Brien and Frank Lovejoy) on a fishing trip pick up a hitchhiker named Emmett Myers (William Talman (actor)), who turns out to be a psychopath who has committed multiple murders. Police believe Myers is traveling alone, so he holds the two men hostage to avoid detection as he flees towards the Mexican border and listens to news broadcasts of the police chase on the car radio.
Meanwhile, the men try to plot their escape from the violent, paranoid Myers. They try tactics such as sabotaging their car and leaving clues (like an engraved wedding ring) at various points on their journey. One man badly twists his ankle during an escape attempt. The sadistic Meyers physically and mentally torments the men, forcing them to continue on foot and mocking their loyalty to each other by claiming that they could have escaped separately if they embraced Meyers each-man-for-himself ethos.
Arriving at the a border town, Myers tries to conceal his identity by forcing one of the men to wear his clothes. Myers discovers that the regular ferry to Mexico is broken. He hires a fishing boat but, while waiting for the fisherman, locals discover his status as a wanted murderer and contact authorities. Police surround the pier and, after some confusion over Myers identity, take him into custody following a brief scuffle in which the boastful Myers is revealed as a coward.
The film ends with the weary friends agreeing to give statements to police.
Cast
- Edmond O’Brien as Roy Collins
- Frank Lovejoy as Gilbert Bowen
- William Talman (actor) as Emmett Myers
- José Torvay as Captain Alvarado
- Wendell Niles as Himself
- Jean Del Val as Inspector General
- Clark Howat as Government Agent
- Natividad Vacío as Jose
- Rodney Bell as William Johnson
Next Movie
Watch English Movies- Jamaica Inn 1939 by Alfred Hitchcock
Watch Movies for English Listening Practice
HiCafe site has 1000+ movie related contents in 35+ genres for practicing English listening. Visit Improve English Listening Skills page to learn more.
