Manhunt (1969 TV series)

Manhunt
Genre	Drama
Created by	Rex Firkin
Starring	Alfred Lynch Peter Barkworth Cyd Hayman
Theme music composer	Ludwig van Beethoven
Opening theme	Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)
Ending theme	Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	26
Production
Executive producer(s)	Rex Firkin
Producer(s)	Andrew Brown
Running time	26 x 50 minute episodes
Production company(s)	London Weekend Television
Release
Original network	ITV
Audio format	Mono
Original release	2 January – 26 June 1970

Manhunt is a World War II drama series consisting of 26 episodes, produced by London Weekend Television in 1969 and broadcast nationwide in January 1970.^[1]

Synopsis

British pilot Jimmy Briggs (Alfred Lynch) crashes his aeroplane in occupied France and immediately finds himself on the run from the Nazis. He meets a young girl, Nina (Cyd Hayman), a part-Jewish agent with important information, and vows to get her back to Britain. He is helped by another agent, code-named Vincent (Peter Barkworth), and pursued across France by S.S. Officer Lutzig (Philip Madoc), and the ambivalent Abwehr Sgt. Gratz (Robert Hardy), a complex psychological character who is implied to fall in love with Nina. Unlike most previous war dramas, the Nazis were presented as more than just fanatical thugs. While Lutzig was close to the stereotype, although given great depth by Philip Madoc, Gratz could not have been more different. Unlike many similar dramas, Manhunt also portrayed in detail the rivalry between the SS and the Abwehr.

Cast

Character	Actor
Jimmy Briggs	Alfred Lynch
Vincent	Peter Barkworth
Nina	Cyd Hayman
Adelaide	Maggie Fitzgibbon
Abwehr Sgt Gratz	Robert Hardy
Lutzig	Philip Madoc

In addition, Manhunt features many notable guest appearances, such as by Paul Darrow, John Savident, George Sewell, Julian Glover, Nerys Hughes, Tony Beckley, and Richard Hurndall.

Notes

• The Allied agents identify themselves to each other at one point with the challenge "What is war?" to which the answer is "War is love."
• The musical theme was taken from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, which features the famous rhythm used to introduce radio broadcasts to Nazi occupied territories, and also signifies the letter "V", for Victory, in Morse Code.
• With the exception of the episode "One More River" which was shot on film, the programme was shot on colour videotape.
• The episode "Intent To Steal" is most uncharacteristic of the series and features very little dialogue.

Episode list

Episode no.	Title	Director	Writer(s)	Original Air Date
01	"Fast Forward, Voyagers"	Bill Bain	Bruce Stewart	2 January 1970
As Germans break up a meeting of French Resistance leaders, ‘Nina’ escapes with British agent ‘Vincent’, along with RAF pilot Jimmy, whose plane has crashed nearby.
02	"Break-Up"	Rex Firkin	Derek Ingrey	9 January 1970
After witnessing the rape of a farm girl by a Vichy policeman, Nina is shocked by the scant sympathy shown by the others and breaks away on her own - with dire results.
03	"Onlt the Dead Survive"	Cyril Coke	Roy Clarke	16 January 1970
With the Gestapo closing in on them, Vincent takes Nina and Jimmy to his family chateau where they are hidden by a loyal gamekeeper.
04	"What Did You Do In The War, Daddy?"	Bill Bain	Arden Winch	23 January 1970
JImmy, Vincent and Nina hide in a disused room at the top of Vincent’s family chateau - but the refuge becomes a prison when the Gestapo occupy the lower rooms.
05	"One More River"	Cyril Coke	Bruce Stewart	30 January 1970
Vincent, Jimmy and Nina have 50 miles of occupied France to traverse before they reach the River Cher, where Free France begins.
06	"Open House"	Bill Bain	Jonathan Hales	6 February 1970
Vincent, Jimmy and Nina seek refuge in a ‘safe’ house. But who are the mysterious figures in the shadows?
07	"Better Doubt Than Die"	Cyril Coke	Harry Green	13 February 1970
As the German military roars south to Toulon, Vincent, Jimmy and Nina hide in an old toll-house. But Vincent risks their lives by trying to contact the local Resistance.
08	"A Different Kind of War"	Rex Firkin	Jonathan Hales	20 February 1970
Jimmy and Nina shelter at a farmhouse. At once, they realise they’ve walked into a bizarre and sinister situation.
09	"Betrayal"	Cyril Coke	Elwyn Jones	27 February 1970
Gratz closes in on Vincent, Jimmy and Nina as they hide in an armaments factory. One of the workers is an informer - but which one?
10	"With a Sort of Love"	Bill Bain	Vincent Tilsley	6 March 1970
Gratz interrogates Nina; his methods are persuasive. Lutzig also wants her information - provoking conflict between the SS and the Abwehr.
11	"The Price of Resistance"	Cyril Coke	Hugo Charteris	13 March 1970
.
12	"The Enemy You Know"	Bill Bain	Jonathan Hales	20 March 1970
At a sleazy nightclub - now the focal point for both the Resistance and collaborators - Vincent, Jimmy and Nina see more danger in hiding and put themselves in full view of the SS.
13	"A Way to Die"	Cyril Coke	Andrew Brown	27 March 1970
Jimmy and Vincent learn of an impending SS raid on a junk shop where a Resistance meeting is planned. Unable to give warning, they visit the shop - with tragic results.
14	"One Way Home"	Bill Bain	Jonathan Hales	3 April 1970
Narrowly escaping the SS round-up in which Vincent was caught, Jimmy is hidden by a French Resistance girl - but her brainwashed younger brother is a potential informer.
15	"Little Man, Big Gun Pt 1"	Robert Tronson	Vincent Tilsley	10 April 1970
Gratz captures a young British agent, and exploits Nina's attraction for the agent in order to extract information from him. But the agent is wary of Gratz's offer.
16	"Little Man, Big Gun pt 2"	James Ormerod	Vincent Tilsley	17 April 1970
Nina and David are holed up in Gratz's apartment. Playing a series of mind games, Gratz proves that David’s affection for Nina is weaker than his sense of duty.
17	"The Ugly Side of War"	Cyril Coke	William Martin	24 April 1970
Posing as a seaman, Jimmy infiltrates the German-controlled metalworks in Bordeaux where he makes an important discovery.
18	"Confessional"	Bill Bain	Hugo Charteris	1 May 1970
Nina and Adelaide rendezvous in the church of St Xavier. But is it a Gestapo ruse to get Nina away from Gratz?
19	"The Death-Wish"	Robert Tronson	Arden Winch	8 May 1970
In Paris, Vincent is offered his freedom. How can he be sure it is not a trap?
20	"Machine"	James Ormerod	Peter J Hammond	15 May 1970
A Gestapo agent in the metalworks terrorises Jimmy into revealing his identity - and an innocent Polish worker is executed.
21	"Degrade and Rule"	Cyril Coke	Harry Green	22 May 1970
Gratz tries to trick British Intelligence by the use of a captured transmitter and a British agent; his plan backfires and he is arrested.
22	"Intent to Steal"	Robert Tronson	Jonathan Hales	29 May 1970
Vincent, Jimmy and Adelaide, with a strong force of the Bordeaux Resistance organisation, infiltrate the German-controlled metalworks in a last desperate attempt to seize an aircraft component.
23	"The Train May Be Late"	James Ormerod	Alfred Shaughnessy	5 June 1970
Vincent, Nina and Adelaide embark on a highly dangerous train journey.
24	"Little Man, What Next? Pt 1"	Bill Bain	Vincent Tilsley	12 June 1970
Lutzig arrests Gratz, who is tortured in an effort to force him to betray Nina. He resists and survives, but is finally confronted by someone he is shocked to see.
25	"Little Man, What Next? Pt 2"	Robert Tronson	Vincent Tilsley	19 June 1970
As the price of his freedom, Gratz makes a promise to Lutzig: he will lead the SS to Nina.
26	"The Losers"	James Goddard	William Martin	26 June 1970
Encouraged by Gratz and aided by the Resistance, Nina, JImmy and Adelaide hope to escape to England. Can they really make it to freedom?

References

1. Brockman, David (1 November 2002). "Watching London". Transdiffusion Broadcasting System. Retrieved 9 October 2007. Early programmes from LWT included a 26-part drama series set among the French resistance in World War II called 'Manhunt'

• Evans, Jeff (2001). The Penguin TV Companion. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-051467-8.

External links

• Manhunt at the Internet Movie Database