Lifeboat

A detailed Summary of Lifeboat

The many characters in Alfred Hitchcock's classic movie Lifeboat portrayed a variety of alternating task roles not only in creating a fluctuating group dynamic, but fatal decision making as well. Nine characters originally occupied the small lifeboat after their ship was sunk by a German submarine: Connie Porter a female reporter, Mrs. Higgins and her son Johnny, Alice Mackenzie a nurse, Stanley Garret (Sparks) a ship's officer, Kovac a worker on the ship, Charles Rittenhouse a wealthy factory owner, George Spencer (Joe) ship's steward, Gus Smith (Schmidt) an injured sailor, and Willy A German naval officer. Through the whole film many of the characters slip back and forth between different roles, oftentimes assuming two or more task roles at once.

Connie Porter was the first survivor to be in the boat, aware that the ship was sinking she simply had herself lowered into the lifeboat with her belongings and rowed to safety. In a short while, more survivors began to pull themselves into the boat. Connie being a great reporter tried vainly to save all her belongings during the entire movie and manages to lose all of her worldly possessions including a precious bracelet she had had throughout her career as a reporte

The other characters in the film such as Ritt, Kovak, and Sparks assumed different roles at different points through out the struggle. All three took turns shifting from leader to follower, opinion giver to opinion seeker, and all of who eventually played roles of self-confessor, recognition seeker, and special interest pleader. These three men all had different opinions concerning the major decisions made by the crew. The course to Bermuda was often the center of debate. All three took turns attempting to gain leadership and urged the other to follow their lead. The crew was fairly cooperative with each one, allowing each one to speak his opinion, although not always recognized, they each wanted the same goal, to keep the survivors alive.

r. On the lifeboat, Connie tended to lean towards being a help seeker but at different times became an information seeker and a leader.

Throughout the film Lifeboat, not only did Hitchcock's characters make terrible decisions concerning the circumstances, but shifted through a variety of task roles. From caregiver to murderer, leader to follower, and sometimes even portrayed self-confessing the combination of these characters made an interesting film and a great example of group behavior.

Mrs. Higgins and her dead baby were the final people to enter the boat. Finding that her baby was dead Mrs. Higgins was in a terrible emotional state. Her character in the film was a help seeker

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Approximate Word count = 972
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Movies