Manhunt is a Second World War drama series consisting of 26 episodes, produced by London Weekend Television in 1969 and broadcast nationwide in the United Kingdom from January 1970.[1]
British pilot Jimmy Briggs (Alfred Lynch) has crashed his aeroplane in occupied France and immediately finds himself on the run from the Nazis. He comes across a resistance cell whose leader is code-named Vincent (Peter Barkworth). Nina (Cyd Hayman), a part-Jewish agent with important information of resistance figures and addresses, also appears in the town, upset and terrified after her own Paris cell is destroyed by the Nazis. Vincent is ordered to get her back to Britain or to kill her if he has to. The three are pursued across France by SS Obersturmbannführer Lutzig (Philip Madoc) and Abwehr Sgt. Gratz (Robert Hardy), a complex psychological character who, it is implied, falls in love with Nina. Unlike many previous war dramas, the story presents the key Nazis with some nuance. Though Lutzig is a cold and relentless SS officer he can be intelligent and creative in his job; Gratz is a deeply flawed and contradictory character who fully understands his personal shortcomings. Manhunt also portrayed in detail the rivalry between the SS and the Abwehr.
Although the overall plot is driven by the need to keep Nina out of the hands of the Germans and return her to England with her secret information, the series ended in an anti-climax. Gratz is sure that he has all of Nina's information anyway, mostly through pillow talk and carelessness on her part. Nina and Jimmy, despite their closeness while on the run, live in different worlds in England. Their relationship does not endure.
In addition, Manhunt has many notable guest appearances, such as by Paul Darrow, John Savident, George Sewell, Julian Glover, Nerys Hughes, Tony Beckley, Yootha Joyce, Stephen Lewis, William Marlowe, Brian Cox and Richard Hurndall.
Early programmes from LWT included a 26-part drama series set among the French resistance in World War II called 'Manhunt'