Man Hunt (1941)
Fritz Lang's gripping wartime thriller follows a British hunter who dares to aim at Hitler — and pays a deadly price for it.
Man Hunt - Movie Information
- Original Title: Man Hunt
- Release Year: 1941
- Directed by: Fritz Lang
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Thriller, War
- Runtime: 1h 45m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: German, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 13, 1941 (United States)
- Alternative Titles: El hombre atrapado (ES), Menschenjagd (DE), Duello mortale (IT), Chasse à l'homme (FR), O Homem que Quis Matar Hitler (BR)
- Production Companies: 20th Century Fox
- Production Countries: United States of America
Man Hunt - Plot
Shortly before the start of WW2, renowned British big-game hunter Alan Thorndike, vacationing in Bavaria, has Hitler in his gun sight. He is captured, beaten, left for dead, and escapes back to London where he is hounded by Nazi agents and aided by a young woman.
Man Hunt - Trailer
See the tension unfold in this classic Fritz Lang thriller:
One of the Most Gripping Scenes Ever Filmed...as two world-famous hunters stalk each Other!
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Man Hunt - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Fritz Lang
Main Cast
- Walter Pidgeon
- Joan Bennett
- George Sanders
- John Carradine
- Roddy McDowall
- Ludwig Stössel
- Heather Thatcher
- Frederick Worlock
- Roger Imhof
- Holmes Herbert
Writers
- Dudley Nichols
Producers
- Kenneth Macgowan
Man Hunt - FAQs
Did Man Hunt actually show Hitler in crosshairs?
Yes — Fritz Lang's film opens with the audacious image of a British hunter lining up Adolf Hitler in his rifle scope at Berghof. The scene was considered extraordinarily bold for a Hollywood production released months before the United States entered World War II, making it one of the most provocative opening sequences of its era.
What is Man Hunt about?
Man Hunt follows Captain Alan Thorndike, a celebrated British big-game hunter who, while vacationing in Bavaria just before World War II, finds Hitler in his rifle sight. Captured, beaten, and left for dead by Nazi forces, he escapes to London, where he is relentlessly pursued by enemy agents while a spirited young woman offers him shelter and loyalty.
Who are the main actors in Man Hunt?
Man Hunt stars Walter Pidgeon as Captain Alan Thorndike and Joan Bennett as Jerry Stokes, the Cockney woman who shelters him. George Sanders plays the menacing Major Quive-Smith, with John Carradine as the sinister Mr. Jones and a young Roddy McDowall rounding out the key supporting cast.
Is Man Hunt based on a true story?
Man Hunt is not based on a true story. It is adapted from Geoffrey Household's 1939 thriller novel Rogue Male, which imagines a fictional British sportsman who attempts a practice shot on Hitler. The novel was itself a work of pure fiction, though it resonated powerfully with pre-war anxieties about the Nazi regime.
Who directed Man Hunt and what is his style?
Fritz Lang directed Man Hunt. A German-born filmmaker who had fled Nazi Germany himself, Lang brought personal urgency and expressionist tension to the film. His mastery of shadow, confined spaces, and psychological dread transforms what could have been a straightforward chase thriller into a deeply atmospheric anti-fascist statement.
Where can I watch Man Hunt online?
Man Hunt is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. As a 1941 classic, it is widely accessible across major digital platforms for on-demand viewing.
How long is Man Hunt?
Man Hunt has a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes (105 minutes). The film moves at a brisk, suspenseful pace, balancing tense chase sequences in the Bavarian countryside with atmospheric scenes set in wartime London's fog-drenched streets and cramped safe houses.
What are films similar to Man Hunt?
Viewers who enjoy Man Hunt may also appreciate Enemy at the Gates (2001), The Great Dictator (1940), and Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) for their wartime tension and moral complexity. The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Blow-Up (1966) share Man Hunt's noir atmosphere and cat-and-mouse intrigue.
More About Man Hunt
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