Horse Head Has An Idea:..."The Hitch-Hiker" (1953)

HERE'S AN IDEA!


"The Hitch-Hiker" hints of terrible things to come.  Our villain is played by William Talman.  You'll recognize him as the TV District Attorney who always laid a golden turd on the b/w "Perry Mason."  But as the hitchhiker, he gets to stretch his chops playing a psycho murderer with a peep-eye that never closes.  His victims are played like a couple of average Joe Schmos who are neither risk-takers nor tough guys.  That's really kind of refreshing.

The film was directed by Ida Lupina...one of the few female directors of her era (or any era) and she was also the only woman to direct a "Twilight Zone" episode which I find to be doubly cool.  (It was the one called "The Masks"...about a bitter millionaire that forces all his guests to wear hideous masks until midnight.)

"The Hitch-Hiker" looks terrific in that film noir, low budget style, but the story is much tamer than your imagination might lead you to believe.  Just forget about missed opportunities.  Not everyone is brave at the right time.

"The Hitch-Hiker" (1953)


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Good stuff.

 Casey Chambers
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