The great Fritz Langs films are enjoying a revival at the moment thanks to the DVD releases of some of his classics like Metropolis and the Mabuse films, so this first ever DVD release of Man Hunt is timely. Quite where the film fits into his canon though is another question despite its high ideals and anti-Nazi theme its a minor work, with several wild mood swings and changes of pace.
The story, set in the 1930s, is a pretty obvious cry by Lang for the US to join the War. Pidgeon stars as Captain John Thorndike, sportsman, hunter and all round good egg. While out hiking in the German mountains he spies Hitler through his sights, and aims a phantom shot at the German Fuhrer. He is grabbed by a soldier, then beaten, tortured and threatened, and must sign a paper admitting he tried to assassinate Hitler. He refuses, escapes on a boat back to Blighty but is pursued by a couple of German hitmen who are determined to get him to sign the document which they will use as proof of British aggression.
On arriving back in London, Thorndike discovers his only real ally is a street-walker, Jerry (Bennett), a tart with a heart who refuses to leave him to his evil pursuers. After a couple of terrific chases, especially one down a tube line, Thorndike is tracked to Dorset and trapped the Nazis, it seems, have won.
The tone of this intriguing film is all over the place Bennett sports a dreadful gor-blimey accent, Pidgeon is absurdly cut glass, and the Nazis all have monocles, but such is Langs technical ability he keeps the suspense up at all times. It works best as an old-fashioned Hitchcockian thriller, with several brilliant set pieces and a genuine sense of threat. In between though there is a lot of talky, static scenes. Its almost schizophrenic stuff, but worth seeing for Lang completists. The print is excellent, giving full value for Langs wonderful black and white photography, and the sound good too but be warned, there are several scenes in predominantly German. An oddity, but rewarding.
Overall verdict: Not Langs finest hour but an intriguing wartime thriller. If you can gert past the caricatures and terrible accents its arresting enough.
Reviewer: Mike Martin