Two fishermen pick up a psychopathic escaped convict who tells them that he intends to murder them when the ride is over.Two fishermen pick up a psychopathic escaped convict who tells them that he intends to murder them when the ride is over.Two fishermen pick up a psychopathic escaped convict who tells them that he intends to murder them when the ride is over.
- Awards
- 1 win
José Torvay
- Capt. Alvarado
- (as Jose Torvay)
Wendell Niles
- Wendell Niles
- (as Wendel Niles)
Natividad Vacío
- Jose
- (as Natividad Vacio)
Gordon Barnes
- Hendrickson
- (uncredited)
Rodney Bell
- William Johnson
- (uncredited)
Orlando Beltran
- Salesman
- (uncredited)
Wade Crosby
- Joe - Bartender
- (uncredited)
June Dinneen
- Waitress
- (uncredited)
Joe Dominguez
- Mexican Policeman
- (uncredited)
Henry A. Escalante
- Mexican Guard
- (uncredited)
Albert Ferrara
- Gas Station Attendant
- (uncredited)
Taylor Flaniken
- Mexican Cop
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn an interview, William Talman recalled an incident that happened shortly after the release of this film, in which he gave a chilling portrayal of escaped murderer and serial killer Emmett Meyers. He was driving his convertible in Los Angeles with the top down, and he stopped at a red light. Another driver in a convertible who was stopped next to him stared at him for a few seconds, then said, "You're the hitchhiker, right?" Talman nodded, indicating that he was. The other driver got out of his car, went over to Talman's car and slapped him across the face, then got back in his car and drove off. In recalling the story, Talman said, "You know, I never won an Academy Award but I guess that was about as close as I ever will come to one."
- GoofsLate in the film when a helicopter flies over, the point of view shot from the helicopter is not only clearly not the same location the actors are in (it is much more desolate), but it also has camels in it - which would be very unusual in the Mexican desert.
- Quotes
Emmett Myers: You guys are soft. You know what makes you that way? You're up to your neck in IOU's. You're suckers! You're scared to get out on your own. You've always had it good, so you're soft. Well, not me! Nobody ever gave me anything, so I don't owe nobody!
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: This is the true story of a man and a gun and a car. The gun belonged to the man. The car might have been yours-or that young couple across the aisle. What you will see in the next seventy minutes could have happened to you. For the facts are actual.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Wanderlust (2006)
- SoundtracksViolin Concerto No 2 in E Minor, Op 64--Andante
Written by Felix Mendelssohn
Featured review
A Buried Little Treasure!
"The Hitch-Hiker" is an excellent little independently produced film-noire thriller directed by Ida Lupino. It is essentially a three character story about two pals on a fishing trip (or is it?) who stop to pick up a hitch-hiker whose car has apparently broken down, What they don't realize is that the hitchhiker is a crazed killer.
The two buddies are played by two of the best character actors of the period, Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy. The hitcher, in the role of his career, is played by William Tallman (of TV's Perry Mason fame).
The story covers their trek across the desert back roads of Mexico in an effort to evade the law. Most of the film takes place within the claustrophobic confines of O'Brien's car as he and Lovejoy remain at the mercy of loose cannon Tallman never knowing where or when he might decide to shoot them. Lupino gives us a compact, tense and suspenseful thriller. Shot in black and white, it runs a brief 71 minutes and delivers an excellent drama on a limited budget.
Rarely seen today, this movie is a buried little treasure.
The two buddies are played by two of the best character actors of the period, Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy. The hitcher, in the role of his career, is played by William Tallman (of TV's Perry Mason fame).
The story covers their trek across the desert back roads of Mexico in an effort to evade the law. Most of the film takes place within the claustrophobic confines of O'Brien's car as he and Lovejoy remain at the mercy of loose cannon Tallman never knowing where or when he might decide to shoot them. Lupino gives us a compact, tense and suspenseful thriller. Shot in black and white, it runs a brief 71 minutes and delivers an excellent drama on a limited budget.
Rarely seen today, this movie is a buried little treasure.
helpful•638
- bsmith5552
- Mar 1, 2002
Details
- Runtime1 hour 11 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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