Description

The Hitch-Hiker is a 1953 film noir directed by Ida Lupino about two fishing buddies who pick up a mysterious Hitchhiking during a trip to Mexico.

The movie was written by Robert L. Joseph, Lupino, and her husband Collier Young, based on a story by blacklisted Out of the Past screenwriter Daniel Mainwaring (who did not receive screen credit). The film is based on the true story of psychopathic murderer Billy Cook (criminal).

It is regarded as the first American mainstream film noir directed by a woman. The director of photography was RKO Pictures regular Nicholas Musuraca.

In 1998, The Hitch-Hiker was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

Cast

• Edmond O’Brien as Roy Collins
• Frank Lovejoy as Gilbert Bowen
• William Talman (actor) as Emmett Myers
• José Torvay as Captain Alvarado
• Wendell Niles as Himself
• Jean Del Val as Inspector General
• Clark Howat as Government Agent
• Natividad Vacío as Jose
• Rodney Bell as William Johnson