By Armando Inquig
Although ‘Sabotage’ is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s lesser-known films, its darker elements mark it as a significant precursor to his later works.
Narratively daring for its time, the film incorporates dark and tragic elements that Hitchcock would later become known for. Released in 1936, Sabotage is one of Hitchcock’s British productions before he moved to the US and transitioned into Hollywood.
The film follows cinema owner Karl Verloc (played by Oscar Homolka), a man who engages in attacks against the city’s infrastructure, unbeknownst to his wife, Mrs. Verloc (Sylvia Sidney), and her younger brother, Stevie (Desmond Tester).
Ted Spencer (John Loder), is the detective sergeant assigned to investigate him, and infiltrates Verloc’s life under the guise of a cinema patron. As Spencer delves deeper into his investigation, Mrs. Verloc gradually senses that something is wrong with her husband. It is soon revealed that Verloc, pressured by his co-conspirators, is planning to carry out a big sabotage act.
He secretly instructs Stevie to deliver a film canister containing a lethal bomb that is timed to explode in the heart of London. Stevie, who is innocent and unsuspecting of its contents, agrees to transport the canister. On his way to the location, the bomb detonates on a crowded bus, killing the young boy and sending shockwaves through the city. Mrs. Verloc is devastated by the loss of her brother and confronts Karl, and in a moment of anger, stabs and kills him.
Detective Spencer, now seemingly having some feelings for Mrs. Verloc, is torn and grapples with the implications of it all. Will Detective Spencer abide by his obligations and turn Mrs. Verloc in, or will his emotions prevail and help her escape?
In true Hitchcockian fashion, the film navigates complex ethical dilemmas involving loyalty, justice, and the consequences of actions, themes that became a hallmark of his storytelling and continued throughout the rest of his career.
His direction is steady, focused on the psychological complexities of the characters without devolving into a conventional tropes.
“Sabotage”, released as “The Woman Alone” in the United States, is now available in Blu-ray in the United Kingdom in a high-definition format.
