Comments on: Saboteur (1942) http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/26/saboteur-1942/ Film reviews and commentary tonight, before I forget tomorrow Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:21:30 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Joe Valdez http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/26/saboteur-1942/comment-page-1/#comment-2167 Joe Valdez Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:10:51 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/26/saboteur-1942/#comment-2167 Pat: The only problem with your critique is that you could apply that same logic to <em>Strangers On a Train</em> - with Robert Walker and the hapless Farley Granger - yet that movie is a minor masterpiece. <em>Saboteur</em> is "lesser Hitchcock", but I think it’s because the script is a mess. I agree with you though that the set pieces are exciting. Thanks for commenting! Damian: I agree, the Statue of Liberty sequence is superlative and the chief reason to see the film. It's the best use of the monument I've seen in a movie (<em>X-Men</em> and <em>Remo Williams</em> would be the others). You certainly can't accuse Hitchcock of thinking small. Pat: The only problem with your critique is that you could apply that same logic to Strangers On a Train – with Robert Walker and the hapless Farley Granger – yet that movie is a minor masterpiece. Saboteur is “lesser Hitchcock”, but I think it’s because the script is a mess. I agree with you though that the set pieces are exciting. Thanks for commenting!

Damian: I agree, the Statue of Liberty sequence is superlative and the chief reason to see the film. It’s the best use of the monument I’ve seen in a movie (X-Men and Remo Williams would be the others). You certainly can’t accuse Hitchcock of thinking small.

]]> By: Damian http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/26/saboteur-1942/comment-page-1/#comment-2163 Damian Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:36:24 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/26/saboteur-1942/#comment-2163 Once again, this is one of the more recent Hitchcock films I've seen and, once again-- although I do agree with your assessment of it, Joe--I quite enjoyed it. I'm going to be totally unoriginal and say that the most memorable scene for me was the climax atop the Statue of Liberty (of which the idea of setting an action finale around an elevated American landmark pre-dates Hitch's later <i>North by Northwest</i>). When I saw that sequence I realized that it had inspired moments in two of my favorite films: <i>Die Hard</i> and <i>The Hudsucker Proxy</i>. Once again, this is one of the more recent Hitchcock films I’ve seen and, once again– although I do agree with your assessment of it, Joe–I quite enjoyed it. I’m going to be totally unoriginal and say that the most memorable scene for me was the climax atop the Statue of Liberty (of which the idea of setting an action finale around an elevated American landmark pre-dates Hitch’s later North by Northwest). When I saw that sequence I realized that it had inspired moments in two of my favorite films: Die Hard and The Hudsucker Proxy.

]]> By: Pat Evans http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/26/saboteur-1942/comment-page-1/#comment-2125 Pat Evans Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:37:15 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/26/saboteur-1942/#comment-2125 Part of the problem with this film is the lightweight cast -- actors who were more likely to feature in rom-coms than thrillers -- although interestingly Cummings was also in the later "Dial M for Murder". However the set pieces, particularly the final scenes on the Statue of Liberty are what make this film essential Hitchcock. Part of the problem with this film is the lightweight cast — actors who were more likely to feature in rom-coms than thrillers — although interestingly Cummings was also in the later “Dial M for Murder”. However the set pieces, particularly the final scenes on the Statue of Liberty are what make this film essential Hitchcock.

]]>