The Hitch-Hiker Film Screening

Join the Center for Creative Photography and the Hanson Film TV Institute for a new film series featuring independent female directors!

The second film in the series is 1953's The Hitch-Hiker, directed by Ida Lupino. The screening will also feature guest speaker Dr. Joshua Gleich, Assistant Professor, School of Theatre, Film and Television.

Beyond its obvious cultural significance as the only classic film noir directed by a woman (actress Ida Lupino), THE HITCH-HIKER is perhaps better remembered as simply one of the most nightmarish motion pictures of the 1950s. Inspired by the true-life murder spree of Billy Cook, THE HITCH-HIKER is the tension-laden saga of two men on a camping trip (Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy) who are held captive by a homicidal drifter (William Talman). He forces them, at gunpoint, to embark on a grim joyride across the Mexican desert. Renegade filmmaking at its finest, THE HITCH-HIKER was independently produced, which allowed Lupino and ex-husband/producer Collier Young to work from a treatment by blacklisted writer Daniel Mainwaring, and tackle an incident that was too brutal for the major studios to even consider. 

Members, an exclusive print viewing will be held from 5:00 - 6:00pm. Please RSVP here. In Addition to the members' only print viewing, Supporter, Advocate and Patron level members enjoy reserved seating at all film screenings. Please arrive early to claim your seats - they will be released 5 minutes prior to the event.

This film is presented with support from the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television