Lang Yes, Pigeon No.
Customer Rating: 
Man Hunt is considered one of Fritz Lang's best films and an example of great film noir. I'm not so sure it is film noir nor am I sure it's one of Lang's best. The 1941 film stars Walter Pigeon and Joan Bennett, the third time the pair co-starred. Pigeon is best known for the dozen or so films he made with Greer Garson, two of which (e.g., "Mrs. Miniver", "Madame Curie") earned him Oscar nominations. I remember him best as the villain in "Dark Command" (1940) opposite John Wayne and as the scientist in "Forbidden Planet" (1956).
Joan Bennett is at her perky best in this film, the first of several she made with Fritz Lang. Indeed, she and Lang formed a production company together, making such memorable films as "Woman in the Window" (1944) and "Scarlett Street" (1945), both of them with Edward G Robinson. It's hard to believe such a talented woman is as well remembered as she is.
Lang was one of the fathers of film noir and was called the "Master of Darkness". More than anyone else he popularized the German school of expressionist film, with "Dr. Mabuse" (1922), "Metropolis" (1927) and "M" (1931). Though he wasn't a Jew, Lang fled German in 1934 when the Nazis took over. He eventually came to the US where he made such notable films as "Fury" (1936), "The Return of Frank James" (1940), and "Western Union" (1940). Lang was delighted to make anti-Nazi films, but in 1941 Germany was a good customer for the American film market, so the issue was a delicate one.
The film has a good supporting cast with George Sanders as an obsessed German major, John Carradine as a spy, and Roddy McDowall as a cabin boy.
Lang's photography is exceptional, but there are long pauses in the action that lead to boredom. Without Joan Bennett's perky cockney presence, the film would be deadly dull. There are also long periods of complete silence, and this too appears to be a major fault. On other occasions the music is clearly intrusive, even though it is scored by Oscar winning composer Alfred Newman who usually does a great job (e.g., "Camelot", "The King and I", "With a Song in my Heart").
Appearing before the US entry into the war, but after the war in Europe was already in progress, the film has many anti Nazi sentiments. The idea that a famous big game hunter was loose in Germany stalking Hitler did give some solace to people in 1941, although in retrospect it seems a little silly.
Another silly aspect of the film is Pigeon's behavior once he arrives in London. He is afraid of every shadow. He runs away from puny little German guys half his size, and a fat old man who can barely walk sends Pigeon dashing into the shadows. Here's this "big game hunter", a strappingly large man who is bigger than any of his trackers. Lean John Carradine sends Pigeon scampering down 2 flights of stairs. What's up with this? It just doesn't make sense and dramatically looks silly.
Of course, a Fritz Lang film is always worth viewing and this film particularly shows off some of his more subtle photographic techniques. But otherwise it isn't a keeper.
George Sanders is deliciously evil as a Gestapo agent in
Customer Rating: pre-war Germany. The atmospherics of this Fritz Lang thriller, made in Hollywood, is very Germanic. Walter Pidgeon, the star, on the other hand was rather bland. He's Alan Thorndike, reknown big game hunter, & British gentleman. He's in Germany to kill Hitler. He gets close enough & has Adolf in his crosshairs. He pulls the trigger &... nothing. The gun is empty & game is over. It's pre-war remember? As he is about to leave he is busted by the Gestapo & accused of being a British assassin. He is tortured, confesses nothing. He escapes & now he becomes the prey. With the help of cabin-boy Roddy McDowell, he makes his way back to England on a Danish freighter. Back in London he is befreinded by Jeri, gamely played by Joan Bennett. She's a Cockney "working girl". We know she's not a hooker because she is so nice & heroic, & the censors did not allow that type of behavior from prostitutes. The producers simply place a sewing machine in the background of her flat & presto, she's not. This movie does have a bit of a contrived ending. Then the war begins. The performance of George Sanders is enough to recommend this movie.
Rediscover Fritz Lang
Customer Rating: Recently I had seen 2 old classics, Man Hunt was one of them. The other was Seven Days to Noon by John Boulting.
Both were released the latter part of 2009.
I must say that Seven Days to Noon seemed dated and slow as a thriller but Man Hunt remained taut and masterfully
directed by Fritz Lang.
Fritz Lang, a true master of film noir.
