Lifeboat

In Alfred Hitchcock's Second World War drama, survivors of a torpedoed passenger ship are set adrift in a lifeboat, fearing for their lives as they struggle to stay afloat on the open sea. The film stars Tallulah Bankhead and Walter Slezak.

Lifeboat is a programme presented as a feature‑length movie, categorised as a drama set during the Second World War. The film concentrates on the tension and uncertainty that emerge when a group of people becomes isolated after a maritime catastrophe. Its wartime setting underlines the constant danger that pervades everyday life in that era. The narrative follows the survivors of a passenger liner that has been hit by a torpedo. Cast adrift in a single lifeboat, they find that the small vessel is their only refuge amidst a hostile sea. Each passing hour amplifies their fear, as the precariousness of their situation forces them to confront the possibility of death. The production bears the imprint of Alfred Hitchcock, whose name is attached to this Second World War drama. Hitchcock’s involvement suggests a focus on the psychological strain experienced by those trapped in a precarious maritime environment. The film therefore leans heavily on tension rather than action. The cast includes Tallulah Bankhead and Walter Slezak, who portray members of the beleaguered group stranded at sea. Their performances help to convey the sense of desperation that pervades the lifeboat’s cramped quarters. Together they illustrate how ordinary individuals respond when confronted with extreme danger and limited hope.