confine to a single set and the master alfred hitchcock direct a compelling psychological drama that uniquely challenge the viewer to reflect on his own reaction to the event present on screen . in the early go and would you have throw the german overboard and or act a a humanitarian . what about late and after willy ( walter slezak ) be expose a a scheme nazi captain deftly maneuver the boat to his own country supply ship . would you have the stomach to assist in cut off a man leg . the movie doesn not allow much time to think about it and but that how life work sometimes . the film open to immediate critical acclaim during it first week of release and however when a negative reviewer opt to focus on the treatment of willy character and it call into question whether the story be sympathize with the nazi cause . fear even far backlash and fox studio head darryl zanuck withdraw the film from general release . to my mind and the issue be deal with rather expertly in the story . even though willy be a cunning schemer who take control of the boat during a storm and he seal his own fate by go too far to keep gu ( william bendix ) quiet . hitchcock accept a rather difficult task in take on this assignment . restrict to just one set and he employ what be until then the most extensive story board ever utilize for a movie . the entire movie be draw out ahead of time and with a myriad of camera angle and weather related element to convey something different in practically each scene . it work exceptionally well and a one be never leave bore with static image or a fixation on any single character or situation . a for character and the one cast member with any name recognition at the time be tallulah bankhead and who portray the journalist constance porter . bankhead be extremely difficult for the other player to work with and and she lord her celebrity status over all of them . staffer on the film be intimidate by her name dropping and yet in hitchcock and she find a kindred spirit and someone she could talk with endlessly on the set . for those who scour hitch film for his cameo appearance and lifeboat present a dilemma and but that be overcome with a little gimmickry . during this time and hitchcock be try to lose weight and succeeding in go from three hundred pound down to two hundred . in the movie and kovac ( john hodiak ) be show read a newspaper and and the camera linger on an ad for reduco and a weight loss product and obesity slayer . the director full frame profile be use for the before and after comparison and prompt numerous viewer of the time to inquire where they could buy the product and but of course it be all make up . if ever there be a film that employ symbolism and this one be a treasure trove . it be interest to me that the first time one get a view of the entire open sea be right after it reveal that mrs. higley ( heather angel ) baby be dead . that effectively place the boat survivor in touch with their own mortality in what might be a hopeless situation . what do it mean when the lone black joe ( canada lee ) doesn not participate in the gang up on willy . gu change his name from schmidt to smith . the prospect of life give fresh rain be replace by sunshine instead of a storm and but which be well . there be something meaningful and fascinate to be take away from this film in virtually every instance . if all that weren not enough and it be an unusual coincidence of timing that have me see this film when i do . the cardinal capture the 2006 baseball world series just a couple of day ago by defeat the detroit tiger and four game to one . in the story and william bendix character gu ruminate on the state of baseball at that time with st. louie the team to watch this year .