IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The suspect in a 12-year-old murder case is finally caught and tried, but the witnesses are a bit hard to track down...The suspect in a 12-year-old murder case is finally caught and tried, but the witnesses are a bit hard to track down...The suspect in a 12-year-old murder case is finally caught and tried, but the witnesses are a bit hard to track down...
Iris Adrian
- Marie
- (uncredited)
Vince Barnett
- Joe
- (uncredited)
Michael Barrett
- Eddie Dalbo
- (uncredited)
Al Bridge
- Ulysses Grant Sheldon
- (uncredited)
John Butler
- Alice's Landlord
- (uncredited)
Frank Cady
- Showbox Puppeteer
- (uncredited)
Robert Cavendish
- Dan Brian
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe poem in the letter written to the public defender by Rolene is taken from the poem known as "Tichborne's Elegy". Chidiock Tichborne took part in the 1586 Babington plot to murder Queen Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. Tichborne wrote the poem to his wife when he was in the Tower of London awaiting execution. The lines in the letter are taken from the second stanza of Tichborne's 3-stanza poem.
- GoofsWhen Paul Bennett is talking to his father in the hospital after the car chase, the man in the background turns twice to walk off screen.
- Quotes
Kerry McGuire: He's right. I've drunk better alcohol out of compasses.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Major Crimes: Poster Boy (2013)
- SoundtracksWishing Will Make It So
(uncredited)
Written by Buddy G. DeSylva
Performed by Lynne Roberts
[Sally sings the song in the opening scene at the bar]
Featured review
Hunt The Man Down - Another RKO Big 'Little' Picture
This unusual RKO supporting feature was ambitious to say the least. Its director was a prolific French born veteran of numerous American features, George Archainbaud. Some of his work has been recognised for its artistic merits (13 Women '32 - The Lost Squadron '32) Archainbaud turned to TV later in his career. The involved and imaginative story was penned by generally undistinguished writer De Vallon Scott - both the direction and story were worthy of being treated to main feature status. An interesting, above average cast bring this rather complicated tale to life with dedicated conviction. Gig Young (why he chose to lump himself with that peculiar name is beyond understanding) plays a dedicated public defender working to uncover the truth behind a re-opened murder case that spans a pre and post WW11 timeline. To save on investigative expenses he asks for assistance from his retired ex-cop father (the always interesting Harry Shannon who played the father of 'Citizen Kane' in '41) together, they make a formidable team.
The time distance between the original crime can make keeping track of this intriguing plot a little difficult - as the audience is expected to remember who the players are - and with most not being particularly well known, this demands some concentration - especially as the war years have brought various changes to their circumstances and appearances. It also looks as if RKO may have shortened the production schedule or made post production cuts at some stage (?) There's no boring padding within this story, it starts and holds fast to the main threads till the end - while it could have done with a tad more character development to assist us to more readily identify them. The casting makes good use of James Anderson (To Kill A Mockingbird '62) and a bevy of wonderful looking - hard working B feature women, including Mary Anderson (Lifeboat '44), Carla Balenda (Sealed Cargo '51).
Especially interesting is the Grace Kellyish; Christy Palmer, who plays the eventual wife to the Gerald Mohr character. Christy Palmer, who in real life married actor Alan Baxter, doesn't seem to have stared in any other film (our loss!) she is another plus for this little movie. Good use is also made of a variety of character actors all given snappy lines to bolster interest as it speedily rolls along. Visually, it's perfectly captured on film by the marvellous Nicholas Musuraca. Above average and under recognised.
Note: The old C&C TV print currently being run on local Aust TV is in need of replacing and either they are running it at a faster speed or they have clipped it - as it only clocks in at 65m while being listed at 69mins. Those four mins just might have helped with further character recognition.
The time distance between the original crime can make keeping track of this intriguing plot a little difficult - as the audience is expected to remember who the players are - and with most not being particularly well known, this demands some concentration - especially as the war years have brought various changes to their circumstances and appearances. It also looks as if RKO may have shortened the production schedule or made post production cuts at some stage (?) There's no boring padding within this story, it starts and holds fast to the main threads till the end - while it could have done with a tad more character development to assist us to more readily identify them. The casting makes good use of James Anderson (To Kill A Mockingbird '62) and a bevy of wonderful looking - hard working B feature women, including Mary Anderson (Lifeboat '44), Carla Balenda (Sealed Cargo '51).
Especially interesting is the Grace Kellyish; Christy Palmer, who plays the eventual wife to the Gerald Mohr character. Christy Palmer, who in real life married actor Alan Baxter, doesn't seem to have stared in any other film (our loss!) she is another plus for this little movie. Good use is also made of a variety of character actors all given snappy lines to bolster interest as it speedily rolls along. Visually, it's perfectly captured on film by the marvellous Nicholas Musuraca. Above average and under recognised.
Note: The old C&C TV print currently being run on local Aust TV is in need of replacing and either they are running it at a faster speed or they have clipped it - as it only clocks in at 65m while being listed at 69mins. Those four mins just might have helped with further character recognition.
helpful•141
- krocheav
- Mar 25, 2019
- How long is Hunt the Man Down?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Public Defender
- Filming locations
- Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, California, USA(the chase scene that ends with the deaths of Lefty McGuire and the two thugs who shot him was filmed on the section of Cahuenga Boulevard that runs along the East side of the Hollywood Freeway near the Mulholland Bridge in the Cahuenga Pass)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 9 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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