Rogue Male (TV 1977)

Early in 1939 Sir Robert Hunter takes aim at Adolf Hitler with a high powered rifle, but the shot misses its mark. Captured and tortured by the Gestapo and left for dead, Sir Robert makes ... See full summary »

Director:

Clive Donner

Writers:

Frederic Raphael, Geoffrey Household (novel)

Stars:

Peter O'Toole, John Standing, Alastair Sim

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter O'Toole	...	Sir Robert Hunter
John Standing	...	Major Quive-Smith
Alastair Sim	...	The Earl
Harold Pinter	...	Saul Abrahams
Michael Byrne	...	Interrogator
Mark McManus	...	Vaner
Ray Smith	...	Fisherman
Hugh Manning	...	Peale
Robert Lang	...	Jessel
Cyd Hayman	...	Rebecca
Ian East	...	Muller
Philip Jackson	...	1st Seaman
Nicholas Ball	...	2nd Seaman
Maureen Lipman	...	Freda
Ray Mort	...	Gerald

Storyline

Early in 1939 Sir Robert Hunter takes aim at Adolf Hitler with a high powered rifle, but the shot misses its mark. Captured and tortured by the Gestapo and left for dead, Sir Robert makes his way back to England where he discovers the Gestapo has followed him. Knowing that his government would turn him over to German authorities, Sir Robert goes underground in his battle with his pursuers.

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Plot Keywords:

gestapo | england | hitler | plot to kill hitler | would be assassin | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 1977 (Canada)

Also Known As:

La tanière

Filming Locations:

The Fox Inn, Court Hill, Corscombe, Dorset, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First film of Philip Jackson.

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Quotes

The Earl: Bobbity, you see, shooting heads of state is never in season. Even if they are jumped-up corporals they are protected, like ospreys. So you know what you are, Bobbity - you're an outlaw!

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Connections

Version of Man Hunt (1941)

User Reviews

Peter O'Toole at His Best

For those of us who still wonder at how the world could have been hornswaggled so long by Hitler, this movie gives us an insight into the spell he had some of the English under!! O'toole plays the brave nobleman who attempts to assassinate the personable madman at his holiday digs. I could have done without the 'pull his fingernails out' scene, but the point was driven home.

He was tortured and escaped with some help from a wonderful German who considered the Nazi thugs 'trash', as well as English sailors. Knowing O'toole's background in the Royal Navy, his disguise didn't take much acting. The 'by the book' captain who refused to allow a search of his vessel by the intimidating Germans made me wonder if any of my compatriots would stand up to that today.

If you've never seen the Tower Bridge, the significance of O'toole coming up from his cramped hiding place onboard the ship, seeing the underside of the bridge, might escape you. He portrays the joie de vivre of that moment wonderfully. I could just fall into his beautiful blue eyes!!

The interplay between O'toole and his uncle, as the love then hate relationship between Parliament and Hitler progresses, gives great insight into how this horror happened. O'toole, the rogue, is under suspicion and search by, not only the Nazi English agents, but his own people, normal agents of government!!! This only added to my usual cynicism concerning governments. Now to read the book!!!!