Hunted
| Program section: | British Noir Strikes Back |
|---|---|
| Directed by: | Charles Crichton |
| Year: | 1952 |
| Country: | Great Britain |
| Length: | 84 min. |
| Cast: | Dirk Bogarde, John Whiteley, Elizabeth Sellars, Kay Walsh, Frederick Piper and others. |
Screening:
- 22. 8. 2026 | 20:30 - Kašpar Sternberg's Courtyard / CZ subs /
Production: J. Arthur Rank Organisation, Independent Artists, British Film-Makers
Script/Based on: Michael McCarthy, Jack Whittingham
Director of Photography: Eric Cross
Score: Hubert Clifford
The premise of the film is reminiscent in many ways of Clint Eastwood’s A Perfect World (1993) starring Kevin Costner. In both films, a criminal on the run from the law is accompanied by a young boy. In the British version of the story, the protagonist, Lloyd, commits murder. We learn the details only bit by bit, but it eventually becomes clear that it was a crime of jealousy, as his partner had been unfaithful to him. Six-year-old Robbie joins the unpredictable Lloyd after running away from his abusive adoptive parents. Together, they travel by various means north to Scotland. The backdrop of war-torn London gives way to the landscape of the island’s countryside, where people do whatever it takes to make ends meet. The narrative is straightforward and relies heavily on the powerful performances of Dirk Bogarde and Jon Whiteley. Directed by Charles Crichton, the film made a strong impression at the Locarno Film Festival, where it won the top prize. (mh)
