Wow! Such a good movie.

good back-story, and good acting

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Dirk Bogarde excels in this contemporary thriller from 1952, directed by Charles Crichton. The story is a simple story of two characters who are on the run from both the authorities and the world, but what impresses here is the depth of characterisation and the multi-layered perspective of a cruel world. Despite the fact that he's introduced in the act of murder, Bogarde delivers an intensely sympathetic and gruff performance that's the best I've seen from him. Matching him is an excellent Jon Whiteley as the put-upon Scottish lad who comes along for the journey. Whiteley was a natural for these parts and would play almost exactly the same role in THE WEAPON. Watch HUNTED for the gritty realism, the non-sentimentality of the premise, and the excellent performances.

Hunted is directed by Charles Crichton, has a screenplay by Jack Whittington and stars Dirk Bogarde, Jon Whiteley, Elizabeth Sellers and Geoffrey Keen.Chris Lloyd (Dirk Bogarde) discovers his wife (Elizabeth Sellers) is having an affair and he confronts the other man about it on a derelict building site and kills him. Unbeknown to him a small boy called Robbie (Jon Whiteley)is hiding there and witnesses the crime. Lloyd takes him and the pair go on the run. They are pursued by a Police Inspector (Geoffrey Keen). At first Lloyd is very quick tempered and is annoyed with Robbie but as they spend more time together the pair come to care for one another. Robbie comes from an abusive foster home and doesn't want to go back there.Bogarde is superb as the quick tempered and desperate man who despite his crime is not a monster. He goes through a real character change. As the film progresses he really begins to care for the boy and he's really gentle with him. The scene where Robbie asks him to tell him a story is very moving, especially when we realise Lloyd's telling the boy about what happened between him and his wife.Whiteley is excellent considering how young he is. He does a good job of conveying his fear of being touched (due to his abusive home life)and how he just wants some kindness in his life. You really feel sorry for him especially when Robbie and Lloyd become so attached because you know in reality this film can't have a happy ending.What this film does so well is make you feel the desperation, the fear and the difficulty of being on the run. Heavily populated places aren't safe because Lloyd could be recognised, every time he shows his face to try and get food or somewhere to stay for the night is a risk. As the film goes on Lloyd and Robbie become like two animals running from a pack of hunters. We want them both to escape and be happy with one another, yet we know that Lloyd's crime must be punished and that the film can only end in tears. Lloyd's decision on the boat for the sake of Robbie is enough to make anyone shed a tear.An excellent and poignant thriller that's a must see for Bogarde fans. Tiger Bay (1959)is another film very similar to this and is highly recommended if you enjoyed Hunted.

In the 1950s, Dirk Bogarde played three main sorts of roles in films--sailors or soldiers, the nice Dr. Sparrow in the Doctor movies as well as complete sociopaths. Of these roles, the sociopaths are by far the most interesting to watch. During this time, he often played murderers and crooks on the run. So, when I first started watching "The Stranger in Between", it came as no surprise as he's once again playing a murderer on the run! However, as the film progresses you realize that this seemingly simple film has a lot more depth to it--depth that make it a standout picture.When the movie begins, a cute little boy is hiding after he'd been playing with matches. He stumbles into the hiding place of Chris (Bogarde)--a guy who is wanted for murder! Chris doesn't want to let the boy go--he could tell people where he's hiding. So he convinces the boy that the police are looking for BOTH of them and they set off together on a cross-country run to avoid capture.About midway through this movie, you start to notice some things that make it interesting. Chris isn't just a mindless killer--his motivations and what he did exactly aren't quite so black and white. The boy also is not just some scared kid--he's been terribly abused and in some ways he's better off on the run with a killer than staying in his former life! The film also has a few unexpectedly nice moments between the two. Chalk this up to excellent acting, writing and direction. Where is this all going? Well, see the film to find out for yourself.

Although this movie is nearly fifty years old, it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. What was going to happen next? Would the characters escape? I can't say much more, without giving away the story except - "Hunted" was brilliantly plotted and directed. Thumbs up to everyone concerned, including Dirk Bogarde as the wanted man, and Jon Whitely as the little boy whom he first used, and then befriended.