The expectation:
I recently got a hold of a Hitchcock collection of B movies- the ones that are not as known to the general public- and this film was on it. I chose Sabatoge to watch first because of the back cover synopsis- the main character runs a local movie theater and gets mixed up in 'sabotage'. I went into it not even really knowing how they defined this word but I definitely expected to see Hitchcock's suspenseful style, especially since he was still just working it out as he switches from silents to talkies.
The result:
Hitchcock's better known films are known for their ability to create suspense in an industry that was still creating itself around him. He knows how to cross-cut for maximum effect- so you get that adrenaline, tingly feeling and you can't stop watching the screen- but you want to know the ending right away to regain your normal calm. This film does not disappoint. Although the quality is often poor- especially with the sound- and it is slow getting off the ground- the Hitchcock we have grown to love is still present. The film plays with suspense, if still a little choppy with transitions and dialogue. There even was one point where I didn't think he was going to do what he did with one of the plot points, and its subsequent buildup, but he does. Oh, he does it. Hitchcock always takes you right over the edge- even in his early beginnings- and then tidies it all up for you at the end so you can still sleep well. This is my favorite kind of suspense film... I like to sleep.
What to look out for:
The glorious cross-cutting- don't get too excited for the end that you miss the middle.
Those close up shots- you can tell that he is moving from silents to talkies if you really pay attention to the drama, intrigue, passion, and fury that his actors can convey without saying a word.
The definition of sabotage- when you find out what it really means in this film, the tragic is almost too much to take. Hitchcock knows his timing!
Flickr photo by Midnight-Digital
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