THE HITCH-HIKER

US, 1953, 71 minutes, Black and white.
Edmond O’Brien?, Frank Lovejoy, William Talman.
Directed by Ida Lupino.

The Hitch-Hiker is one of five films directed by Ida Lupino between 1949 and 1953. They were small, low-budget, black and white dramas and melodramas.

This film focuses on a serial killer, a ruthless man who escapes from jail, murders hitch-hikers. The story focuses on two friends, played by Edmond O’Brien? and Frank Lovejoy, who give the hitch-hiker a lift. He then abducts them, going to Mexico. The film shows the interactions between the three men, ultimately their overcoming their captor.

William Talman is the killer, a sinister figure who on television played the adversary to Perry Mason in many of the television programs.

Other films by Ida Lupino include Not Wanted, Outrage, Hard Fast and Beautiful, The Bigamist.

1. The reputation of the film? Impact? Taut thriller? The direction of Ida Lupino?

2. Black and white photography, California, Mexico? Authentic locations? Musical score?

3. The title, the focus on the murders, their being visualised, the killer walking away? The personalities of the victims? The emerging portrait of the serial killer? The police and investigations? The media and the radio reports?

4. The focus on Roy and Gilbert, their going away for the weekend, change of destination? The killer using this to taunt them about secrecy from their wives? Their personalities, their friendship, the car? Together, the conversations, the different characters?

5. The killer, his personality, in jail, ruthless, wanting to get to Mexico? Hitch-hiking, abducting the two?

6. The confrontations between Roy and Gilbert and the killer? Finding out more about him, the radio, trying to disguise the radio information? His needing them? Across the border, the police? Camping out, Roy and his angers, attempts to thwart the killer? Gilbert and his being more calm? Their backgrounds, their work, physical strength, psychological ingenuity? The build-up to Mexico, walking, in the town? The final confrontation, the police, the overpowering of the killer?

7. The killer, his tormenting the two, his one eye, open, not sleeping? Thwarting their attempts? The psychological intimidation? The physical encounters? The desert, the cars passing? Walking to the town, his being sure of success, his being overpowered, taken away?

8. The portrait of the police, Americans, Mexicans, the collaboration? The various pieces of information – from the men who sold goods to the three, the car?

9. The law enforcement, the media, the resolution of the case? The kind of material that would be now presented in a one-hour episode of a series? A B-budget film of the time?