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Lifeboat

Play trailer Poster for Lifeboat Released Jan 11, 1944 1h 36m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In this tense Alfred Hitchcock thriller, based on a John Steinbeck novella, American and British civilians who have survived the sinking of their ship by a German submarine struggle to reach land in a crowded lifeboat. When a German officer (Walter Slezak) is rescued from the water, the group allows him to board, but his presence only increases the tensions on the boat. Soon treachery ensues, and the population of the vessel gradually decreases as conflicts come to a head.
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Lifeboat

Lifeboat

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Critics Consensus

Hitchcock proves he can wring suspense from the most confined of settings aboard a raft teeming with vivid personalities in this maritime thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Despite that it's a slow starter, the picture, from the beginning, leaves a strong impact and, before too long, develops into the type of suspenseful product with which Hitchcock has always been identified. Oct 16, 2008 Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times That old master of screen melodrama, Alfred Hitchcock, and Writer John Steinbeck have combined their distinctive talents in a tremendously provocative film. Rated: 4/5 Mar 25, 2006 Full Review Dan Callahan Slant Magazine Hitchcock's shifting sympathies guarantee our guilty involvement with the characters until he builds to a climax of intellectual and spiritual excitation. Rated: 4/4 Oct 24, 2005 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Beyond the characters, this is a very challenging film from both a directing and cinematography standpoint. Rated: 4/5 Jan 28, 2024 Full Review Kristin Battestella InSession Film Intense poker, lipstick, and flirtations increase as beards grow and tables turn amid storms, hunger, delirium, and suspicion in a no win situation that remains gripping from beginning to end. Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Francois Truffaut Arts (France) Lifeboat is like roast beef without gravy, and whoever does not get enthusiastic about the movie will be bored to death. May 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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MaryAnn M. Love Hitchcock and this movie was great Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/19/25 Full Review Jared M. One of my all time favorites!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/01/25 Full Review Steve D Well done but not anything that I would want to revisit. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/25/24 Full Review Ma'ark T Hitchcock has the ability to make movies set in one place and keep them interesting. I was not bored by Lifeboat but I was not enthralled either. The suspense just was not there for me. The most interesting part for me was the insight into how those in 1944 thought about the war that was underway at the time. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Jack V Great thriller, despite the movie seeming straight-forward and simple, the plot ends up being very interesting and unpredictable. Great dialogue and immaculate directing. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/05/24 Full Review Alec B Come for Tallulah Bankhead stay for the simmering tension and engaging debates around wartime morality. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Lifeboat

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this tense Alfred Hitchcock thriller, based on a John Steinbeck novella, American and British civilians who have survived the sinking of their ship by a German submarine struggle to reach land in a crowded lifeboat. When a German officer (Walter Slezak) is rescued from the water, the group allows him to board, but his presence only increases the tensions on the boat. Soon treachery ensues, and the population of the vessel gradually decreases as conflicts come to a head.
Director
Alfred Hitchcock
Producer
Kenneth Macgowan
Screenwriter
Ben Hecht, John Steinbeck, Jo Swerling
Distributor
20th Century Fox, CBS/Fox, Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 11, 1944, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)
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