Review of Saboteur (1942) by Alden S — 09 Mar 2017

Far from essential Hitchcock, "Saboteur" is another jaunt through the director's favored "wrongly accused" scenario. The film was shot during wartime, so naturally the central crime is in a related sphere, allowing the script to slide in a patriotic speech here and there.

Robert Cummings is accused of bombing the aircraft factory where he works, framed by the young Norman Lloyd (remember him on "St. Elsewhere," decades later?) in his feature-film debut. This leads to an erratic hitchhiking trip across the country, full of bizarre episodes (I'm guessing this is the only Hitchcock film with Siamese twins in its cast) and implausible transitions.

Eventually, a high-society ring of terrorists emerges. Cummings' love interest is one Priscilla Lane, who can roam the roads for days without showering or a clothing change and yet sustain immaculately styled hair.

Otto Kruger steals the movie as a slick, subtle villain who never drops his charming smile and speaks only in subtext. The climactic confrontation atop the Statue of Liberty is a classic Hitchcock scene, but not enough to save the film.