A few years ago, to me the name
Alfred Hitchcock meant that old guy who was famous for making movies that I’d
never seen. It took me far too long to watch any of his films but I’ve since
been making up for this by watching as many as I can over the last couple of
years. What amazes me each time is that almost every film I’ve seen has been at
least in part brilliant. Even those which I’m not so mad on often contain a
couple of shots or scenes which astound my eyes and he rarely if ever fails to
thrill. The latest Hitchcock to flash excitedly in front of my eyes is his 1942
spy thriller, Saboteur. Production on
the movie began just two weeks after the attack on Pearl
Harbor and patriotism, symbolism and propaganda run right the way
through the picture in every scene and character.
Barry Kane (Robert Cummings) is
an aircraft factory worker from Southern California.
Following a fire at the plant, in which his good friend dies, the evidence
leads detectives to believe that Kane is responsible and he becomes a wanted
man, travelling across the country in a bid to unveil the German spy ring that
he believes is the true culprit. Along the way he becomes acquainted with
Patricia Martin (Pricilla Lane),
a model and patriot who attempts to turn the wanted man in time and time again.
Their travels lead them to the hornet’s nest in New York City where the suspected spies are
planning their latest piece of sabotage.
