Living life with a queer lens, it’s hard not to wonder about a queer
subtext in Ida Lupino’s The Hitch-Hiker
(1953). Lupino’s subtly feminist portrayal of masculinity allowed the motion
picture to stand apart from other male-directed film noirs. The two protagonists
of the film, Gil and Roy, are leaving their wives and families behind for a
fishing trip, which is very Brokeback
Mountain (2005) to begin with. This act could be seen not just as escapism,
but also as a yearning for masculinity and homosocial bonding.
Gil and Roy are very protective of one another. Gil in
particular takes care of Roy when his ankle is injured. He goes so far as to
knock Roy out to shut him up and save him from being killed by Emmett Myers,
the murderous hitchhiker. It’s interesting to point out that Gil is a draughtsman
and Roy is a mechanic, to which Myers suggests makes Gil smarter. Gil is
portrayed as the masculine hero of the film, whereas Roy struggles with his
masculinity, perhaps due to a bicurious, heteroflexible, or gay inclination.
It may be a stretch to suggest that there is a sure queer text to The Hitch-Hiker, but taking into account Lupino's feminist critique, subversion of masculinity, and understated commentary on gender roles, would it really be that out of the question?
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