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The Night of the Hunter
(1955),
Director: Charles Laughton, rated Approved
The scenes...
the story... The stars... BUT ABOVE ALL - THE SUSPENSE!
  Starring:
Robert Mitchum, Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce, Shelly Winters,
Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves, Don
Beddoe, Gloria Castillo
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect
"Not that you mind the
killings! There's plenty of killings in your book, Lord..." -
Rev. Harry Powell, praying to God
Why watch this?
Unique. Nightmarish. Visually Stunning. Ahead of its time.
That's why.
Plot Summary:
During the Great Depression, the imprisoned, self-proclaimed
preacher finds out that his cellmate robbed a bank, taking
$10,000, then hiding at his house in West Virginia. When the
cellmate is executed, Powell thanks The Lord for this
opportunity to woo the vulnerable wife, and get the two
children, John-age 9 and Pearl-age 4, to confess where the loot
is stashed.
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Dad's Preview:
This film is based on Davis Grubb's original novel of the same
name. The film's director, the world famous British actor
Charles Laughton (Mutiny
on the Bounty (1935),
The
Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939),
Witness for
the Prosecution (1957)), breaths an entirely new
interpretation into this nightmarish, adult fairytale about the
serially homicidal "Preacher" Harry Powell. The
incredible genius of this black-and-white film is that director Laughton chose to intertwine German expressionism with noir
naturalism to create a work of art that is both stylish and
creepy in its economies of simplicity. The film, much of it from
the children's perspective, centers on duality: shadow and
light, love and hate (on Powell's knuckles), good and evil. At
the box office, it was a flop, which crushed its director. The
actors all deliver excellent performances, but it is Robert
Mitchum, as the hymn-singing, slow-strolling pastor, who both
captivates and terrifies. To close, it's unique that a film
stays with me. It has to be memorable and unique. This
influential film really stands firm, even after all these
years. It, and I can state this with full confidence, is a
perfect film. |
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Paul Gregory
Productions; United Artists |
