Fritz Lang's MAN HUNT

[Bronxgirl48]

I've been familiar with this film for years but never got a chance to see it. then as I was channel surfing a few days ago, it appeared (the last hour unfortunately -- another "consarnit!") on FMC.

 

Has to be one of Walter Pidgeon's best performances, especially his exchanges in the cave w/James Mason at finale. Joan Bennett has a fairly credible (well, to this Yank's ears) Cockney accent (far above Marjorie Reynolds attempt at being German in another Lang, MINISTRY OF FEAR) I loved when the jeweller innocently pointed the arrow pin at Joan. Very chilling symbolism!

 

I hope I get to see it in its entirety.

 

Lang experts, please give me and everyone the benefit of your wisdom on MAN HUNT.

 

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[ken123]

George Sanders has the " cave conversation " with Walter Pidgeon.

[Bronxgirl48]

Oops -- you're right!

[ken123]

I really like " Manhunt ", with fine performances from Walter Pidgeon, George Sanders, John carradine, and Joan Bennett. Dudley Nichols ( the screenwriter ) and director Fritz Lang also worked well together on another excellent noir " Scarlett Street ", also starring the GREAT Joan Bennett.

[Bronxgirl48]

I've always felt that Joan Bennett was underrated. I haven't seen SCARLET STREET and THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW in some time. I tend to confuse the two.

 

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[MikeBSG]

"Man Hunt" is terrific. I especially like John Carradine's wordless role as a German agent in London who tracks Walter Pidgeon in the subway. The scene in which Bennet acts like a prostitute in saying goodbye to Pidgeon to distract attention from him is a real heartbreaker. I think this one has usually been underrated.

[Bronxgirl48]

There was a prominent shot of a sewing machine in Bennett's flat. I was trying to figure out what that meant.

 

Yes, that subway scene with Carradine was exquisite.

[MissGoddess]

I only saw the last 20 minutes or so, from the time Pidgeon (still in the cave) pretended to go along with Sanders' idea and rigged up that "spear" to the end. I never saw Joan except in the brief flashback sequence. I was already mad that they didn't end up together---is what Sanders' said about her fate true? I didn't know this was a Fritz Lang film, I just happened to turn to FMC and there it was.

 

I'm not sure I want to see the rest since it ends like it did.

[ken123]

Joan's occupation was that of a a seamtress. hehe

 

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[Bronxgirl48]

That darn Production Code.....

[Bronxgirl48]

From what I saw it had fascinating dark, fatalistic elements. I'm not that familiar with Lang's themes, but I think they include guilt and paranoia. (see MINISTRY OF FEAR)

 

Bennett and Pidgeon in the jewelry store is a very significant scene.

 

Lang seems to be an auteur; definitely a film worth seeing all the way through, as part of his canon.

 

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[FrankGrimes]

BronxGirl -- CONSARNIT! I don't have FMC and I've never seen *Man Hunt*. Why must you taunt me, Mrs. Scratch?

 

Miss Gone with the Wind -- I'm not sure I want to see the rest since it ends like it did.

 

Are you at it again?

[MissGoddess]

You're right Bronxie, Lang is always worth watching, I can always shut it off before the end (hee! I'm getting good at that). I really do want to see what Joan can do with a needle.

[FrankGrimes]

Miss Impetuosity -- Lang is always worth watching

 

Uh-huh.

 

I can always shut it off before the end (hee! I'm getting good at that).

 

Sigh.

 

I really do want to see what Joan can do with a needle.

 

Mm-hmm.

 

Two outta three ain't bad.

[MissGoddess]

I really should watch it all the way through, especially since you've SHAMED me into it and after all, Walter Pidgeon is Theresa's man so one ought to be loyal to fellow Coopsters.

[Bronxgirl48]

Come with me over the mountain....a little farther.....a little farther.....I've got MAN HUNT waiting for you.....and I'll bake you a nice apple pie, like I did for Mr. Scratch. (you know how much he loves them)

[HollywoodGolightly]

I hope more people might get a chance to watch this great Fritz Lang movie now that it has (finally) been released on DVD.

 

I love the cast of the movie, I think Pidgeon and Sanders give some of their best performances and Bennett is absolutely lovely (I also thought her Cockney accent was totally convincing). John Carradine was appropriately sinister and Roddy McDowall gave it a nice touch of innocence that was a nice contrast.

 

The influence of German expressionism can be seen very clearly in some of the scenes in the movie, especially when Pidgeon's character is being chased by the Nazi agents around the streets of London - lots of fog, lots of shadows!

 

This is a great movie, not just for Fritz Lang fans, and if the DVD release was timed to coincide with the recent Valkyrie, then Man Hunt is easily the best of the two.