Plot: What’s it about?
In Los Angeles, an aircraft factory worker named Barry Kane (Robert Cummings) finds himself in the midst of a complex web of events, which point a finger of blame toward him. He was at work and saw someone firebomb his plant, but when his friend was killed in the explosion, all evidence leads to Kane himself. So he is sought for the sabotage of the plant and by the same token, thought to be a Nazi of some kind. But Kane knows he wasn’t the one responsible, so he runs off and seeks the man who did firebomb the plant, the mysterious Mr. Fry (Norman Lloyd). Now there is a widescale manhunt underway, as Kane treks all the way across the country in pursuit of the man who killed his friend and got him into all this trouble. As the chase widens, the two almost cross paths a number of times, but the Nazi agents always seems one step ahead of Kane. But sooner or later, Kane is bound to catch up with him and when he does, will he be able to clear his good name, or will Fry turn out to be the real victor?
I like Saboteur a lot, perhaps due to the wide scope the film takes on, as our main character races to clear his own name. This means plenty of chances for Hitchcock to showcase terrific set pieces and chases, which of course, he does and in fine form. I wouldn’t call this movie one of his masterpieces, but I do think it belongs with his better work, such as Rebecca and Notorious. An excellent overall picture, filled with suspense, a wonderful cast of characters, terrific location work, and of course, the usual Hitchcock touches. I do agree with the critics who claim this is a little heavy handed at times, but I think this offbeat war thriller more than comes through in the end. I think the pace keeps up well throughout this one and man, the ending is superb and really brings it all to an impressive finale. I do think some slow spots are present, but with such great moments in between, this one has more positive elements than negative ones. If you’re a Hitchcock lover or just a film lover, then Saboteur is very recommended indeed.
This is not mentioned with his upper tier efforts, but I still think Alfred Hitchcock more than delivers with this motion picture. I do think he is a little preachy at times, but that is washed off by the impressive suspense and of course, the fantastic closing sequences. All sorts of Hitchcock elements can be found here, with great visuals, a wrongly accused man, a chase to free his name, and some nice twists and turns along the path also. So while some flaws do surface in this movie, I think the good outweighs the bad by a landslide. I do think the ending is so powerful that is downplays the rest of the picture, but what leads up that finale is also very well made. This is not up there with his best films, but it is a more than solid one and well worth a look. Other films directed by Hitchcock include Number Seventeen, The Farmer’s Wife, Sabotage, Spellbound, and Under Capricorn. The cast here includes Robert Cummings (Stagecoach, Beach Party), Otto Kruger (Black Widow, High Noon), Priscilla Lane (Arsenic and Old Lace, Four Wives), and Norman Lloyd (Dead Poet’s Society, M).
Video: How does it look?
Saboteur is presented in a full frame transfer, which is how the film was intended to be shown. This film was made in 1942, but it looks good in this release and in the end, looks much better than I had expected. The print shows minimal damage, but a fine layer of grain most of the time, but it never seems to weigh down the image much. The black & white image looks well balanced and sharp, with no detail issues and no serious problems to discuss. I was very pleased with this presentation and wish some of the other Hitchcock’s looked this solid.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included mono track has some years behind it and sound as such, but still covers the basics well enough in the end. I heard some distortion and harshness at times, but not too much and less than I had expected. No real problems seem to surface here, as the basic sound effects and music come across in decent enough form. I heard no issues with the dialogue either, aside from a couple small flaws that didn’t impact the experience much. This is a limited and dated track, but as far as a mono track from 1942 goes, I’d say this one stands up well enough. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc houses the usual production notes, talent files, and theatrical trailer, but also packs in some additional bonus materials. You can view a selection of production photos & promotional materials, as well as some storyboards and even some of Hitchcock’s own sketches, which make for an excellent inclusion here. The main draw here is Saboteur: A Closer Look, which runs about thirty-five minutes and tells the background on this film, as well as various other topics. This piece combines archival footage of Hitchcock, promotional materials from various films, stills, and of course, a wealth of interviews and makes for a very worthwhile experience.
