The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

For March's Movie In Public Domain, I have chosen the 1953 film "The Hitch-Hiker". Directed and co-written by Ida Lupino, this is the tell of two friends, who, while driving toward a planned fishing trip in a town in Mexico, are taken hostage and terrorized by a psychopathic hitchhiker.

This eerie, unsettling thriller was based on the true crime spree of William Edward Cook, Jr., who posed as a hitchhiker and murdered a family of five and a traveling salesman. The film stars Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy with William Talman as Emmet Myers, the killer holding the two men hostage.

The Hitch-Hiker was the first American mainstream noir film directed by a woman. It premiered in Boston, Massachusetts on March 20, 1953. In 1998, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

From the beginning to end, the Hitch-Hiker will keep you captivated. So, if you're ready to go on the ride of your life, grab the remote, slide back on your sofa or love seat with your chosen drink, and strap yourself in. The Hitch-Hiker can be seen on YouTube for free.

Beware who you pick up! Enjoy!