Rogue Male

It is 1939, and Europe is on the verge of war. At a manor house deep inside German territory, Hitler is entertaining guests. From the surrounding woodland, Sir Robert Hunter, an Englishman, watches the party through the lens of his sniper rifle. He means to assassinate the Fuhrer, though at the last moment, his plans are scuppered. With his life hanging in the balance, Hunter must summon all his wit and courage to withstand the Nazis' brutal interrogation methods and plot a daring escape. Directed by Clive Donner, 'Rogue Male' is an exciting, tense made for TV movie based on the novel of the same name by Geoffrey Household, first published in 1939. A gripping thriller, the tale had been previously adapted for screen in 1941, as Fritz Lang's 'Man Hunt,' which starred Walter Pidgeon and Joan Bennett. Closer to the source material than Lang's version- though still not without differences- it is engaging, with sharp dialogue and a compelling narrative one would be hard pressed to forget. The film weaves a tale of peril and perseverance, set against the backdrop of a Europe teetering on the brink of war. Frederic Raphael's screenplay showcases not only the external conflict of a continent on the precipice of international combat but also the internal struggle of a man fighting for his principles. Sir Robert Hunter's character arc is a testament to the human spirit's resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity. The tension escalates as Hunter, a man out of his element but not out of his depth, uses his ingenuity to turn the hunters into the hunted. His journey is not just a physical one, but also a moral odyssey, as he grapples with the consequences of his actions and the true meaning of justice. In the broader context of war thrillers, Donner's film distinguishes itself with its focus on psychological warfare and the survivalist aspect of Hunter's journey. It doesn't rely solely on action sequences to build suspense; instead, it crafts a tense atmosphere through character development and the looming threat of discovery. As Hunter evades his pursuers, the English countryside becomes a character in its own right, with its rolling hills and shadowed woods providing both sanctuary and peril. The cinematography captures the stark contrast between the tranquil beauty of nature and the dark undercurrents of Hunter's flight; which Christopher Gunning's emotive score compounds. Moreover, Tony Abbott's production design- as well as John Bloomfield's costume design- is grittily authentic, lending a weight of realism to proceedings. Peter O'Toole stars as Hunter, supported by Alaistair Sim, John Standing, Harold Pinter and Michael Byrne. O'Toole's nuanced lead performance is a standout of his career, deftly capturing the essence of a man driven by conviction and haunted by the moral implications of his mission. Sim, in his final film, brings a gravitas to his role as Hunter's uncle, that underscores the film's serious undertones, while John Standing's work as one of the villains of the piece brims with a witty menace. Similarly, Pinter does fine work as Hunter's friend and lawyer, while Byrne is excellent as a sadistic jackbooted Nazi- a role he has played numerous times and always to great effect. Clive Donner's 'Rogue Male' is more than a chase thriller; it is a reflective piece on the choices we make and the paths we take when civilization itself hangs in the balance. Featuring a compelling narrative, witty dialogue and strong characterisation; it has a lot to offer. Boasting fine performances from all in the cast- especially those of star Peter O'Toole and Alastair Sim- as well as an effective score and striking cinematography- it is, in every respect, right on target.

source: Rogue Male

I first saw this in the mid 90s on a vhs. Revisited it recently. This film is criminally underrated n it definitely deserves a remake with bigger budget, action sequences n a different ending. The film is about a hunter who gets a chance to shoot Hitler but misses it. He is then tortured n left for dead by the nazis. He somehow manages to make his way back to his home country. Fearing of extradition n the nazis n local cops after him, he goes under the ground. Yes, literally under the ground. The film turns into a survival thriller n we come to kno that our hunter is the forefather of Rambo. The film is beautifully shot with some amazing countryside locations. The editing, acting n direction is top notch. This film is based on a book. There is a 1941 film version. The writer of the Rambo series got heavily inspired by the book upon which this film is based on.

Very much a film from the times -- extremely long sequences with no dialogue, bad flashbacks, and an almost entirely male cast. The two women who appear have a total of under 10 lines and exist only as romantic interests for men. O'Toole is riveting whenever he speaks; unfortunately, he spends much of his time peering through shrubbery. Alastair Sims is always a joy to see but he, too, is terribly underused. The film has one additional positive aspect, in that it depicts many aspects of British fascism and fascist sympathies (such as the casual appearance of the Mosley graffiti) that many people today are unaware of. Too many of today's films about WWII paint the Allies as all-good and the Axis as all-evil, when history tells us people are far more complicated than that! This would be a good movie for when you're recovering from the flu and are bundled on the couch and not able to absorb anything too complex. If you just need something to pass the time while your electrolytes stabilize, this is the movie for you.

I first read "Rogue Male" as a young boy (of perhaps 10 or 11), and although the themes and the prose were obviously too mature and dense for even an avid reader of that age, even I was deeply impressed by the grittiness and elemental brutality of the plot and the relentlessness and implacability of the unnamed protagonist's pursuers. Say what you will about the technical shortcomings of this made-for-TV version, the script preserves the essence of that story. And although O'toole is perhaps the last "high-end" British actor of that era that I would have chosen for the role (it's hard to imagine anyone less believable as a big-game hunter), he does right by it. The supporting cast ranges from fair to great, and the result is quite watchable for any fan of the suspense/thriller genre. Glad I finally got a chance to see it.

This is a faithful adaptation of the book by Geoffrey Household. It was made in 1941 as Man Hunt, directed by Fritz Lang. That was also a good film, particularly the George Sanders character, but in no ways is it as good as Rogue Male. This was a TV movie, and the color has faded over the years, but it is extremely provocative of the country in south England. I give it a 9.

This is the first Peter O'Toole movie I've seen and I must say I'm rather impressed. I liked the movie a lot and I recommend to other viewers. Of course the film should have been remastered before being transferred to DVD but there isn't much you can do about that is there. I also could do without the nail-biting scenes, but it does have a sense of true brutality that the film had to have. This movie, I don't believe, really needed anymore females in it than it already had because it is more of a manly film and Peter O'Toole doesn't pretty much carry the film. I love classic movies and this one definitely is. Hopefully, a lot of these great films get finally remastered for young people (well I'm 24 right now which really isn't young anymore) to see and enjoy.

I have read the book, and it is still, rather surprisingly, not as well known as some of the lesser output of Alastair MacLean or Hammond Innes, for example, despite its being of the very highest order. This adaptation does slightly change the plot but not to the detriment of the pace or the characterisation. This is not a jolly hockeysticks pre-War John Buchan world that these characters inhabit. The protagonist, never named in the novel, is emotionally stunted by virtue of his aristocratic upbringing and the grieving process for his one true love, whom we can guess at being either a Czech, or a Pole from Danzig/Memel. In a gesture of futile resistance the lord decides to hunt down the great dictator, in a spirit of cold vengeance and sporting curiosity. He is caught and tortured and having expended much inexplicable violence upon him the Gestapo decide to fake his death as a fall from a cliff in order to explain his injuries, having satisfied themselves that his actions were not instigated by the British government. He survives this ill use and then begins one of the most stirring manhunts in literature as he attempts to return to England without embarrassing his former circles. However, when he returns to England he finds that not all is well back in the sceptred isle....... O' Toole is on fabulous form. The lead villain is all you would expect from a Fascist sympathiser, polished, virile and an emetic upon right-thinking people. the celebration of countryside and sport is not lost upon the director as the motor for the political beliefs espoused by both sides as Milord strives to survive and the German Foreign Service seek to make political capital out of his predicament once they have his admission of acting under orders wrung out of him. It is a beautifully paced evocation of a rustic idyll that no longer exists as a result of the chancre, which it, itself, has spawned.

I was an American student back in '76 studying overseas at Oxford, and took a break from the books and just happened to see this movie from the beginning. What a thriller. I don't recall much of it; just that it captivated me throughout. I'm glad to now know the title of the show (from looking up O'Toole,) and is now going to be one of my pleasant pursuits at Blockbuster to find it and watch it again, now with my family and son!!

Unlike his protagonist, director Clive Donner's masterful tale hits its mark on all levels. In adapting the over 50 year-old novel (which I have not read), Donner takes Peter O'Toole through one of his most charming and ruthless roles. The views are taken on a journey into the depths of man's obsession with security and vengeance. Inspired by the death of his lover Rebecca, O'Toole hunts down the man he considers most responsible for her execution: Adolph Hitler. With World War II not yet reaching the shores of England, Hitler finds himself in the sights of O'Toole rifle. With a masterful shot of dark coffee flowing over a white tablecloth, the viewer realized that O'Toole has missed his shot, and his physical torture begins. In crafting a made-for-TV film, Donner was limited somewhat in the graphic nature of the presentation. But, he overcomes this by portraying the most shocking scenes (the extraction of O'Toole's fingernails and the death Major Quive-Smith) with a morbid sense of humor. The same humor is present in the short (but delightful) exchange between O'Toole and the great Alistair Sims. While Sims makes nothing more certain than he is turning his back on O'Toole, the manner in which he does this is exceptional to watch. Indeed, it is the sense of humor throughout the film that helps to propel the story. Rather that feel any emotional attachment for O'Toole, I was more interested in his manner of survival and escape. This emotional dis-attachment is the only reason I scored this film an 8. While I can accept the reason for his revenge, I think that in today's world, such a person would likely be labeled insane and hated by the general public.