Saboteur (1942)

Aircraft factory worker Barry Kane goes on the run across the United States when he is wrongly accused of starting a fire that killed his best friend.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Peter Viertel (original screen play), Joan Harrison (original screen play),

Stars:

Priscilla Lane, Robert Cummings, Otto Kruger

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Priscilla Lane	...	Pat Martin
Robert Cummings	...	Barry Kane
Otto Kruger	...	Tobin
Alan Baxter	...	Freeman
Clem Bevans	...	Neilson
Norman Lloyd	...	Fry
Alma Kruger	...	Mrs. Sutton
Vaughan Glaser	...	Mr. Miller (as Vaughan Glazer)
Dorothy Peterson	...	Mrs. Mason
Ian Wolfe	...	Robert
Frances Carson	...	Society Woman
Murray Alper	...	Truck Driver
Kathryn Adams	...	Young Mother
Pedro de Cordoba	...	Bones - Circus Troupe
Billy Curtis	...	Midget - Circus Troupe

Storyline

Los Angeles aircraft worker Barry Kane evades arrest after he is unjustly accused of sabotage. Following leads, he travels across the country to New York trying to clear his name by exposing a gang of fascist-supporting saboteurs led by apparently respectable Charles Tobin. Along the way, he involves Pat Martin, eventually preventing another major act of sabotage. They finally catch up with Frank Frye, the man who actually committed the act of sabotage at the aircraft factory.

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Plot Keywords:

factory | sabotage | fire | aircraft factory | on the run | 

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Taglines:

Unmasking the man behind your back!

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cinquième colonne

Filming Locations:

Owens Lake, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Frank Lloyd Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min 109 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alfred Hitchcock originally wanted Margaret Sullavan or Barbara Stanwyck for the leading female role. But the role went to Priscilla Lane.

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Goofs

When Pat is trying to stall Fry in the Statue of Liberty she asks "Where's Brooklyn?" He points toward the right. Brooklyn is toward the left from where they were standing.

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Quotes

Mac, Truck Driver: I've been thinkin' for long time I'm gonna get out of this truckin' game.
Barry Kane: Why don't you?
Mac, Truck Driver: One of my neighbors told my wife it's stylish to eat three meals a day.

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Connections

Referenced in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)

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Soundtracks

"Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67"
(1809) (uncredited)
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven
Opening bars hummed by Murray Alper

User Reviews

WWII Hitchcock sheds light on master's tendencies

You can't help but marvel at Hitchcock's early work. "Saboteur," for example, is so slick and quick that it's hard to believe he made this film over 60 years ago. There's some propaganda elements but they're woven into the mystery so well that the thing plays beautifully years later. You also get some previews of stuff that Hitchcock would do later--like using a national landmark as a backdrop. This time it's the Statue of Liberty. In "North by Northwest," of course, it's Mt. Rushmore. You'll also recognize things that pop up later in "Rear Window" and "Vertigo" in "Saboteur" but let's not give away the show. Robert Cummings is excellent as is the oh-so-charming Otto Kruger. Look for Hitchcock's mini-western in this one. It happens quickly so don't blink.