MAN HUNT
US, 1941, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders, John Carradine, Roddy McDowell?.
Directed by Fritz Lang.
Man Hunt is an exciting thriller based on Geoffrey Household's contemporary story, Rogue Male. (The film was remade as a telemovie with the original title in the 1970s. It starred Peter O'Toole and was directed by Clive Donner.)
This film was directed by Fritz Lang, one of the many thrillers that he made at the time of World War 11 (e.g. Ministry of Fear). Lang had a significant role in the American film industry with his strong European background and influence on the German cinema between the wars. He had been approached by Goebbles to be the official filmmaker for the Third Reich. Instead he went to Hollywood.
The film seems slightly far fetched for the beginning of the War, an English hunter and the opportunity to assassinate Hitler. However, as the war went on, it did not seem so unreal.
Walter Pidgeon has a good role as the hunter. Joan Bennett has more of a cameo role as a sympathetic London prostitute. George Sanders is, as ever a suave articulate villain.
1. Impact of the thriller? Topical? Hitler and World War ll? The consequences of the assassination of Hitler?
2. Black and white photography, light and darkness, shadows? The studios for locations? The background of Fritz Lang, his talent, political perspective?
3. The title? the original title of the novel? The reference to hunting?
4. Thorndike and his Canadian background, reputation as a hunter, having Hitler in his sights, the bullet? Firing? The fight with the guards? The capture by Quive? Smith? The interrogation, the brutality of the torture The document to be signed? Thorndike’s arguments on freewill? The suicide set-up? Thorndike’s escape, getting the ship back to London, the friendship of the boy? Making contacts in London?
5. Thorndike and the girl, the meeting, relationship, using her, her help? Getting in contact with his friends? Her going to visit the upper-crust people? Her death? Mr Jones and his pursuit of Thorndike? Quive-Smith? and his coming to London, Thorndyke's escape? The use of hunting techniques, the luring of the prey, Thorndike being trapped? The clash, the sign, hunting skills, the arrow and the death of Quive-Smith?
6. The portrait of the prostitute (gently done, 40s style)? In London, her help; her relationship with Thorndike, her decision to help him, going to the aristocracy? Her murder?
7. Quive-Smith? and George Sanders style? The skill in hunting? The Nazi background, his speeches on Nazi philosophy? Supermen and supremacy? The suave style but the brutality of his interrogation, torture? The planes, discussions with the authorities? The phone call to England? Going to England, trying to spring the trap on Thorndike. being defeated by his own plans? Out-witted?
8. Mr Jones, Nazi spy, being Thorndike, travelling to England, trying to track Thorndike, the death of the girl?
9. The boy and his help on the boat, concealing Thorndike, the dangers?
10. The British perspective of the story? Britain and World War II? Relationship with the Nazi regime? The War?
11. Thorndike and his subsequent career, parachuting into Europe, using his skills?
12. A blend of exciting thriller and W.W.11 propaganda?
