Cry of the Hunted

This is a dark film, visually, and the heavy Cajun dialect inhibits communication. The leads are very good: Best I've seen from the underrated Barry Sullivan, and a very good turn by Vittorio Gassman.

Williams Conrad's character isn't likeable -- but he's terrific with it; best performance among the three male leads.

Strongest point is the dialogue, especially Sullivan-Gassman in the latter minutes of the show when they're camping near the bayou. Ending was somewhat predictable, almost too pat but understandable given Hollywood's needs via the production code and the idea of sending patrons (I gather there weren't many) home uplifted.

The parallel to The Fugitive TV series couldn't escape me, and it had nothing to do with Conrad narrating that terrific series.

First, don't confound this film with other "swamp" films: SWAMP WATER, LURE OF THE WILDERNESS and LURE OF THE SWAMP. This scheme, this topic reminds me something, what about you? Replace Vittorio Gassman by David Janssen and you'll rapidly know what I mean by this. But there are some differences though, Gassman's character is guilty of what he is accused of, and Barry Sullivan's role is more sympathetic than the Javert - from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables - like character of THE FUGITIVE. But the most important thing for me is the relationship between Barry Sullivan - the cop - and the fugitive. Some kind of relationship between friendship, very subtle, and of course adversity. Actually, Sullivan has here the reverse role he had in SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN, co starring Audie Murphy, where Murphy was the Ranger chasing Sullivan the fugitive. There was also this kind of strange companionship between two of them. This Jo Lewis film is very good, maybe not as excellent as GUN CRAZY, but really worth watching. Made for MGM. If you like bayou, swamp stories, I advise an episode from SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE TV show, an episode called RABBIT'S FOOT, starring Stephen mc Nally.

Barry Sullivan, Vittorio Gassman, William Conrad, and Polly Bergen star in "Cry of the Hunted" from 1953.

Jory (Gassman) is housed in the state penitentiary, and the Warden wants the head of maximum security, Tunner (Sullivan), to convince Jory to reveal the name of his cohorts in a robbery.

After a huge physical altercation between Tunner and Jory, Jory agrees to name his fellow criminals. On his way to the DA's office, attached to Officer Goodwin (Conrad), there's a car accident, and Jory escapes. As others have mentioned, it's similar to the Fugitive scenario.

The warden sends Tunner to the Louisiana bayou, Jory's home, to find and return him to prison. No one explains Gassman's Italian accent, though I guess it's supposed to pass for perhaps Creole.

Jory manages to elude both Tunner and the local sheriff. When Tunner finally catches up with Jory, he agrees to return to prison if he can have some time with his wife (Mary Zavian). Tunner agrees.

While alone with Ella, Jory learns he's the father of a young son, and then, taunted by Ella, refuses to go with Tunner. Ella prompty bashes Tunner over the head.

Tunner, delerious, drinks swamp water and winds up in the hospital. Goodwin and Tunner's wife (Bergen) come to the hospital. Tunner will not allow Goodwin to take over the case. The two set out on the bayou in a boat to search for Jory.

This is a small film, directed by the very excellent Joseph H. Lewis, so he makes the most of the film's budget and locations.

The relationship between Jory and Tanner is the real story - they both respect one another, they are both in love with their wives, and they both have a sense of honor.

It's not perfect, but with the direction and acting, it's very good. The handsome Gassman was truly the Olivier of Italy, and throughout his career won many awards. He's very sympathetic. Sullivan turns in his usual solid performance.

It was apparent to me that at least in the first scenes, Polly Bergen's dialogue was looped. Turns out it was looped, all right, by another actress. Why, I don't know. It was a distraction for me because I hate dubbing.

There is a dream sequence while Tunner is hallucinating - it really could and should have been left out.

Nonetheless, worth watching.

If anyone noticed Cry Of The Hunted at least it seemed to me to be a remake of a film did by MGM in 1852, The Wild North. That's where Stewart Granger plays a fugitive fur trapper in the Yukon and Wendell Corey the Mountie out to get his man.

The location moves a few thousand miles south to the Louisiana bayou where Cajun prisoner Vittorio Gassmann escapes cop William Conrad and heads for the bayou swamp which he knows.

Another cop Barry Sullivan takes it as a personal insult that Gassman escaped since he tried to befriend him and goes after him despite warnings from the locals that there's parts of the bayou they don't go into.

Most of the film is Sullivan and Gassman alone and they talk a lot as each tries to figure the other out. Polly Bergen has a good turn as Sullivan's wife.

Best in the film Mary Zavian as Gassman's woman and one deadly Cajun temptress. Her scenes are worth the wait.

I actually enjoyed this film more than I expected. In contrast to other reviews here, I thought the writing was quite snappy and entertaining. I thought the cast was good in all the major roles and the chemistry between the characters was strong.

In particular, Barry Sullivan was a good leading man, and his relationship with his wife (Polly Bergen) was good. I haven't seen many films with those two so it was interesting to see them. I believe that Polly is the mother of Candace Bergen, and you can see some resemblance in her face and attitude.

Vittorio Gassman and William Conrad were also strong supporting roles.

It's not the best noir, but certainly worth seeing. I'm so glad I was able to find it on You Tube since my local library and my local video store had no copies of it....