The Pursuers

A group of former concentration camp prisoners has formed an underground network to hunt Nazi leaders, who are still on the loose. At a secret meeting in Paris they discuss what to do with the former Auschwitz commandant Karl Brochmann, who since 12 years lives in London under the false identity of Karl Luther. They decide to take the law in their own hands, and send their member David to London. He starts his commission by scaring Luther, to see his reactions. Luther is already nervous, because the newspapers are writing about the capture of Eichmann. When he finds out that somebody has broken into his apartment and painted a swastika on his mirror, he gets terrified. He empties his bank account, packs a bag with all his cash and runs away, followed by David.

This has something of a television episode look to it, but it's still quite an engaging thriller that follows the efforts of "David" (a rather wooden Francis Matthews) to track down a former Nazi living in London. "Luther" (Cyril Shaps) is living quietly and successfully when he discovers that he is in the firing line. He concludes that a friendship with a Jewish lady might help divert suspicion, so alights on holocaust survivor "Jenny" (Susan Denny) but will this prove sufficient to keep him safe? Will she be duped too? There is never any jeopardy as to the result with this, and the production is rather stage-bound and basic, but the story is quite well written and Shaps - as his character begins to succumb to panic and desperation - is quite effective before a rather rushed denouement. Fans of the BBC wartime sitcom "'Allo 'Allo" might spot Richard Marner in one of his early roles here too.