Rent Saboteur (1942)

Second Division Hitchcock. - Saboteur review by Steve

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour brought the United States into WWII, Alfred Hitchcock planned to rework The 39 Steps into a propaganda film. David Selznick held the Master's contract but wasn't interested and offered the project and his director to Universal.

It hasn't the magic of the earlier film. Hitch couldn't get Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck and had a B film budget. But Robert Cummings is fine as the working everyman accused of industrial sabotage who flees into the American heartland to clear his name. He is that staple of Hollywood cinema: the individual who is placid in peace, but determined under threat.

Some encounters advance opportunities to express patriotism. Others teach us to be wary of strangers. I like the episode when the hero, hooked up with the prickly, suspicious Priscilla Lane, travels with a train of carnival performers who are eager to discuss the principles of democracy. 

And it all ends up with the famous showdown up on top of the Statue of Liberty, a location offering a very literal illustration of what they were fighting for. It's a minor Hitchcock, but out of a meagre budget and B-stars he still made a fine film of comedy and suspense. Which gives us a reason to fight.

Hitchcock Hit - Saboteur review by NO

Typical Hitchcock-Dark Handsome man &Blonde chased by Police & badmen,reminiscent of the 39 steps even to the gun in the upstairs

gallery.Very well done photographically - look at the extras to see how the Statue of Liberty shots were done.

Glass half full Hitchcock is still a good film! - Saboteur review by AP

I've watched far to much Alfred Hitchcock films. In my, and many of people's opinion they are works of genius!

Looking at his extensive filmography there is still the odd guilty pleasure I have for whatever reason overlooked. Saboteur from 1942 is one such film.

A second world war thriller from during the conflict. Set in the U.S. where Brit Hitchcock was under contract by David O. Selznick by then it deals with elements that were trademark facets of some of his better known films. The innocent man being on the run, chased by lawmen trying to prove his innocence.

In this instance the innocent man is a factory worker, Barry Kane (Robert Cummings). Wrongly implicated for a fatal fire at the factory.

Whilst on the run from California to New York, Kane ends up wooing a law abiding young lady, Pat Martin (Priscilla Lane). The pair do have a screen chemistry as the film develops.

The real bad guys are like a group of terrorists in a James Bond film. Sabotaging not only the factory but a major ship launch in New York.

If you have already watched more mainstream Hitchcock such as The 39 Steps a similar film follows but with a U.S. rather than U.K. setting.

Not one of Hitchcocks best films but certainly not the worse, call it middle of the way. Glass half full Hitchcock is still good!