When British big-game hunter Alan Thorndike (Walter Pidgeon) has his finger on the trigger with Adolf Hitler in his sights, you want to shout, "Hurry! Take the shot. Save the world a lot of pain." But of course, he doesn't, and the evil Nazi criminal lives on to commit his atrocities. Thorndike is captured by the Gestapo, beaten and left for dead but manages to escape. What ensues is the Man Hunt (1941), director Fritz Lang's propaganda opus against World War II. The film has been called Lang's "first American masterpiece." Man Hunt stars Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders, John Carradine and Roddy McDowall.

Thorndike flees Germany for England by sea, with the help of a cabin boy delightfully played by Roddy McDowall. But the Gestapo, played by George Sanders, John Carradine and others, are close behind. Thorndike seeks shelter in a rooming house and meets up with a young woman, Jerry Stokes (Joan Bennett) who is quickly smitten by the handsome adventurer, and she helps him elude his pursuers. The scenes between Jerry and Thorndike are played for the romance, with saccharine sweet music wafting in the background. Jerry seems to be crying all the time, which becomes annoying, although her tears don't seem to bother Thorndike.

Man Hunt is much more exciting when Thorndike is actually on the run, and the film, with its deep shadows and off-screen violence, takes on the feel of the noir genre. He eludes Mr. Jones (Carradine) in a subway tunnel, but the Gestopo's death only leads to more trouble for Thorndike. Eventually, he heads for the country and hides out in a cave, one that doesn't have a back exit. Foolish for a man who is an experienced hunter. He should have known better, but then he would have been able to escape, doing away with the very clever ending.

Although Man Hunt has been called Lang's "first American masterpiece," parts of it are heavy handed and silly by today's standards. However, for the most part, it is a gripping story. The music, by Alfred Newman, is extremely intrusive, signaling when something bad is about to happen or turning sweet when Jerry is around.

Fans of Fritz Lang and/or film noir should put Man Hunt on the top of their to-see list. Released only three months after production started, the film was viewed by many at the time as propaganda to let Americans know what was really going on in Europe. Today's audiences could view the film as a history lesson.

Special Features:

• Rogue Male: The Making of Man Hunt documentary features interviews with Kim Newman, novelist and film critic; Drew Casper, USC film professor; and Patrick McGilligan, Fritz Lang biographer. They talk about the symbolism in the film and discuss Lang's background and his adjustment to Hollywood after fleeing Nazi Germany.
• Restoration comparison
• Commentary by Patrick McGilligan

Director: Fritz Lang

Screenplay: Dudley Nichols from the book by Geoffrey Household

Cast: Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders, John Carradine, Roddy McDowall.

Rating: Not rated. Suitable for adults and older teens

Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3 ½  out of 5 stars

DVD Release Date:

Run Time:   102 minutes

Studio: 20^th Century Fox

Format:   black & white, full frame

Photo Credits: 20th Century Fox