list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around The Night of the Hunter on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/The_Night_of_the_Hunter/24686/default.aspx Title: The Night of the Hunter
Year: 1955
Director: Charles Laughton
Plot: Adapted by James Agee from a novel by Davis Grubb, The Night of the Hunter represented legendary actor Charles Laughton's only film directing effort. Combining stark realism with Germanic expressionism, the movie is a brilliant good-and-evil parable, with "good" represented by a couple of farm kids and a pious old lady, and "evil" literally in the hands of a posturing psychopath. Imprisoned with thief Ben Harper (Peter Graves), phony preacher Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) learns that Ben has hidden a huge sum of money somewhere near his home. Upon his release, the murderously misogynistic Powell insinuates himself into Ben's home, eventually marrying his widow Willa (Shelley Winters). Eventually all that stands between Powell and the money are Ben's son (Billy Chapin) and daughter (Sally Jane Bruce), who take refuge in a home for abandoned children presided over by the indomitable, scripture-quoting Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish). The war of wills between Mitchum and Gish is the heart of the film's final third, a masterful blend of horror and lyricism. Laughton's tight, disciplined direction is superb -- and all the more impressive when one realizes that he intensely disliked all child actors. The music by Walter Schumann and the cinematography of Stanley Cortez are every bit as brilliant as the contributions by Laughton and Agee. Overlooked on its first release, The Night of the Hunter is now regarded as a classic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 20
Number of Lists: 26
Number of blog posts: 1
Number of discussion threads: 8
SpoutRating: 4
]]>Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:07:10 GMTThe Night of the Hunter1955Charles LaughtonAdapted by <a href="/players/P____79110/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>James Agee</a> from a novel by Davis Grubb, The Night of the Hunter represented legendary actor <a href="/players/P____98862/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Charles Laughton</a>'s only film directing effort. Combining stark realism with Germanic expressionism, the movie is a brilliant good-and-evil parable, with "good" represented by a couple of farm kids and a pious old lady, and "evil" literally in the hands of a posturing psychopath. Imprisoned with thief Ben Harper (<a href="/players/P____28319/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Peter Graves</a>), phony preacher Harry Powell (<a href="/players/P____49738/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Robert Mitchum</a>) learns that Ben has hidden a huge sum of money somewhere near his home. Upon his release, the murderously misogynistic Powell insinuates himself into Ben's home, eventually marrying his widow Willa (<a href="/players/P____77029/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Shelley Winters</a>). Eventually all that stands between Powell and the money are Ben's son (Billy Chapin) and daughter (Sally Jane Bruce), who take refuge in a home for abandoned children presided over by the indomitable, scripture-quoting Rachel Cooper (<a href="/players/P____27129/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Lillian Gish</a>). The war of wills between Mitchum and Gish is the heart of the film's final third, a masterful blend of horror and lyricism. Laughton's tight, disciplined direction is superb -- and all the more impressive when one realizes that he intensely disliked all child actors. The music by <a href="/players/P___110437/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Walter Schumann</a> and the cinematography of <a href="/players/P____85976/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Stanley Cortez</a> are every bit as brilliant as the contributions by Laughton and Agee. Overlooked on its first release, The Night of the Hunter is now regarded as a classic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide20Tag Target (>10)26184http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t06210mz0tm.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Night_of_the_Hunter/24686/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_Which_of_these_from_Tim_Out_s_list_of_10_greate/657/43922/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 9/16/2009 2:43:34 PM
Body: My favorite filmmakers of all time are The Coen brothers yet curiously enough, their first film is my least favorite! I still love it, but it's the only one I would consider less than perfect for me. Also interesting is that two fo these, Jean Vigo's L'Atalante and Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter are each othe only feature films that either of these guys ever made. I wonder if they still would have been as high on this list if they had gone on to make further films, whether better ones or worse ones.
]]>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:43:34 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls9/16/2009 2:43:34 PMMy favorite filmmakers of all time are The Coen brothers yet curiously enough, their first film is my least favorite! I still love it, but it's the only one I would consider less than perfect for me. Also interesting is that two fo these, Jean Vigo's L'Atalante and Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter are each othe only feature films that either of these guys ever made. I wonder if they still would have been as high on this list if they had gone on to make further films, whether better ones or worse ones. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_Which_of_these_from_Tim_Out_s_list_of_10_greate/657/43893/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Dr_Gor
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 9/13/2009 9:11:31 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Here is the link for the full list of Time Out's 50 greatest directorial debuts of all time Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:The 400 BlowsL'AtalanteBadlandsBlood SimpleCitizen KaneThe Maltese FalconThe Night of the HunterNight of the Living DeadPerformanceThey Live By Night [/quote] Obviously I could only vote for one movie out of that list... George Romero is a GOD in the directing world and NOTLD is, quite simply, one of the best movies ever made... < GOR >
]]>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:11:31 GMTDr_GorMovie Polls9/13/2009 9:11:31 PM[quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Here is the link for the full list of Time Out's 50 greatest directorial debuts of all time Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:The 400 BlowsL'AtalanteBadlandsBlood SimpleCitizen KaneThe Maltese FalconThe Night of the HunterNight of the Living DeadPerformanceThey Live By Night [/quote] Obviously I could only vote for one movie out of that list... George Romero is a GOD in the directing world and NOTLD is, quite simply, one of the best movies ever made... &lt; GOR &gt; http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Which_of_these_from_Tim_Out_s_list_of_10_greatest/657/43834/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 9/9/2009 6:25:09 PM
Body: Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Here is the link for the full list of Time Out's 50 greatest directorial debuts of all time Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:The 400 BlowsL'AtalanteBadlandsBlood SimpleCitizen KaneThe Maltese FalconThe Night of the HunterNight of the Living DeadPerformanceThey Live By Night
]]>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:25:09 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls9/9/2009 6:25:09 PMPlease reference this thread for the rules of this group. Here is the link for the full list of Time Out's 50 greatest directorial debuts of all time Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:The 400 BlowsL'AtalanteBadlandsBlood SimpleCitizen KaneThe Maltese FalconThe Night of the HunterNight of the Living DeadPerformanceThey Live By Night http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_August_17_Death_Row/625/43615/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 8/18/2009 4:07:10 PM
Body: [quote user="mercurial"] The Night of the Hunter - Not really about an execution, but the film centers around some money that the cellmate of a death row inmate overhears and takes upon himself to find upon his release. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - I believe the latter part of the film centered around an execution but all I remember is the bizarre orgy. Need to watch it again. [/quote] The Night of the Hunter is one of those that I always felt was overrated. There were just too many moments of that film that made it very obvious that what you were watching was shot on a set in the back lot somewhere. It took me out of the film several times Perfume's is one of my favorites from the last few years. Total eye candy but I really got into the story too.
]]>Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:07:10 GMTleeroy711Weekly Theme8/18/2009 4:07:10 PM[quote user="mercurial"] The Night of the Hunter - Not really about an execution, but the film centers around some money that the cellmate of a death row inmate overhears and takes upon himself to find upon his release. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - I believe the latter part of the film centered around an execution but all I remember is the bizarre orgy. Need to watch it again. [/quote] The Night of the Hunter is one of those that I always felt was overrated. There were just too many moments of that film that made it very obvious that what you were watching was shot on a set in the back lot somewhere. It took me out of the film several times Perfume's is one of my favorites from the last few years. Total eye candy but I really got into the story too. http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_August_17_Death_Row/625/43612/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 8/18/2009 3:29:56 PM
Body: The Night of the Hunter - Not really about an execution, but the film centers around some money that the cellmate of a death row inmate overhears and takes upon himself to find upon his release. Sin City - The film that brought back Mickey Rourke from mediocrity. Not to give anything away but his character Marv was one fucking badass that just wouldn't die peacefully. Capote & Infamous - Both good films about the murders that took place in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood and the subsequent executions of the murderers. Elizabeth - The first act of the film centers on whether Elizabeth is going to be executed or become queen. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - I believe the latter part of the film centered around an execution but all I remember is the bizarre orgy. Need to watch it again. Marie Antoinette - The one thing that got a lot of people mad about this film was the lack of any depiction of her execution. The Messenger - Again, doesn't get to the actual act, but nonetheless. Alice in Wonderland - OFF WITH HER HEAD! Salo - Kinda sorta fits the theme. A bunch of young girls and boys are kidnapped from the countryside and ritualistically tortured and executed. Worth checking out if you feel like vomiting. Dancer in the Dark - I love von Trier and Bjork but not so much together in this film. Definitely on my re-watch list. Starship Troopers - There is a particularly hilarious scene in the film where a murderers execution is going to be aired on live television.
]]>Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:29:56 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme8/18/2009 3:29:56 PM The Night of the Hunter - Not really about an execution, but the film centers around some money that the cellmate of a death row inmate overhears and takes upon himself to find upon his release. Sin City - The film that brought back Mickey Rourke from mediocrity. Not to give anything away but his character Marv was one fucking badass that just wouldn't die peacefully. Capote &amp; Infamous - Both good films about the murders that took place in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood and the subsequent executions of the murderers. Elizabeth - The first act of the film centers on whether Elizabeth is going to be executed or become queen. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - I believe the latter part of the film centered around an execution but all I remember is the bizarre orgy. Need to watch it again. Marie Antoinette - The one thing that got a lot of people mad about this film was the lack of any depiction of her execution. The Messenger - Again, doesn't get to the actual act, but nonetheless. Alice in Wonderland - OFF WITH HER HEAD! Salo - Kinda sorta fits the theme. A bunch of young girls and boys are kidnapped from the countryside and ritualistically tortured and executed. Worth checking out if you feel like vomiting. Dancer in the Dark - I love von Trier and Bjork but not so much together in this film. Definitely on my re-watch list. Starship Troopers - There is a particularly hilarious scene in the film where a murderers execution is going to be aired on live television. http://www.spout.com/groups/Community_Recommendations/Re_Need_more_Noir/643/39308/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Community Recommendations
Post Date: 1/9/2009 12:06:52 PM
Body: [quote user="leeroy711"] [quote user="Risselada"] I've seen all of these except for Fury, and they are all fantastic!! You MUST see these: Born to Kill Murder, My Sweet Out of the Past And these are also highly recommended and are all listed as film-noir on IMDB (for what it's worth): Sunset Blvd. The Big Sleep White Heat The Night of the Hunter Strangers on a Train The Third Man The Maltese Falcon And if you liked Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street you should check out another one of my favorites from him, Shock Corridor. [/quote] Thank you thank you, the only ones of these I've seen were Night of the Hunter, - which had a pretty dark story but I really didn't like that it was all done in a studio. And Third Man was pretty incredible. I haven't seen The Big Sleep, but I have seen The Big Heat (Fritz Lang) which was the one I was actually trying to think of when I mentioned Fury. I think Fury would actually probably be considered pre-noir. I've kinda been on a Sam Fuller kick ever since I watch Shock Corridor earlier this year. I friggin' loved that one. I just got White Dog in the mail the other day but I haven't watched it yet. [/quote] Yeah, if you see any of them, especially one of the first three, I'm excited to hear what you think! Let me know how White Dog goes.
]]>Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:06:52 GMTRisseladaCommunity Recommendations1/9/2009 12:06:52 PM[quote user="leeroy711"] [quote user="Risselada"] I've seen all of these except for Fury, and they are all fantastic!! You MUST see these: Born to Kill Murder, My Sweet Out of the Past And these are also highly recommended and are all listed as film-noir on IMDB (for what it's worth): Sunset Blvd. The Big Sleep White Heat The Night of the Hunter Strangers on a Train The Third Man The Maltese Falcon And if you liked Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street you should check out another one of my favorites from him, Shock Corridor. [/quote] Thank you thank you, the only ones of these I've seen were Night of the Hunter, - which had a pretty dark story but I really didn't like that it was all done in a studio. And Third Man was pretty incredible. I haven't seen The Big Sleep, but I have seen The Big Heat (Fritz Lang) which was the one I was actually trying to think of when I mentioned Fury. I think Fury would actually probably be considered pre-noir. I've kinda been on a Sam Fuller kick ever since I watch Shock Corridor earlier this year. I friggin' loved that one. I just got White Dog in the mail the other day but I haven't watched it yet. [/quote] Yeah, if you see any of them, especially one of the first three, I'm excited to hear what you think! Let me know how White Dog goes. http://www.spout.com/groups/Community_Recommendations/Re_Need_more_Noir/643/39294/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Community Recommendations
Post Date: 1/8/2009 10:47:21 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] I've seen all of these except for Fury, and they are all fantastic!! You MUST see these: Born to Kill Murder, My Sweet Out of the Past And these are also highly recommended and are all listed as film-noir on IMDB (for what it's worth): Sunset Blvd. The Big Sleep White Heat The Night of the Hunter Strangers on a Train The Third Man The Maltese Falcon And if you liked Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street you should check out another one of my favorites from him, Shock Corridor. [/quote] Thank you thank you, the only ones of these I've seen were Night of the Hunter, - which had a pretty dark story but I really didn't like that it was all done in a studio. And Third Man was pretty incredible. I haven't seen The Big Sleep, but I have seen The Big Heat (Fritz Lang) which was the one I was actually trying to think of when I mentioned Fury. I think Fury would actually probably be considered pre-noir. I've kinda been on a Sam Fuller kick ever since I watch Shock Corridor earlier this year. I friggin' loved that one. I just got White Dog in the mail the other day but I haven't watched it yet.
]]>Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:47:21 GMTleeroy711Community Recommendations1/8/2009 10:47:21 PM[quote user="Risselada"] I've seen all of these except for Fury, and they are all fantastic!! You MUST see these: Born to Kill Murder, My Sweet Out of the Past And these are also highly recommended and are all listed as film-noir on IMDB (for what it's worth): Sunset Blvd. The Big Sleep White Heat The Night of the Hunter Strangers on a Train The Third Man The Maltese Falcon And if you liked Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street you should check out another one of my favorites from him, Shock Corridor. [/quote] Thank you thank you, the only ones of these I've seen were Night of the Hunter, - which had a pretty dark story but I really didn't like that it was all done in a studio. And Third Man was pretty incredible. I haven't seen The Big Sleep, but I have seen The Big Heat (Fritz Lang) which was the one I was actually trying to think of when I mentioned Fury. I think Fury would actually probably be considered pre-noir. I've kinda been on a Sam Fuller kick ever since I watch Shock Corridor earlier this year. I friggin' loved that one. I just got White Dog in the mail the other day but I haven't watched it yet. http://www.spout.com/groups/Community_Recommendations/Re_Need_more_Noir/643/39286/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Community Recommendations
Post Date: 1/8/2009 6:53:11 PM
Body: [quote user="leeroy711"] I feel like I've recently re-discovered the noir genre. I just watched The Killing last night and I loved it. As with Fuller's Pickup on South Street. I had previously been a fan of Fritz Lang's older German movies, but now I've seen Fury and I need to see more of his American stuff. And after watching Touch of Evil, I can't understand why Citizen Kane is known as Orson Welle's best work.. I mean c'mon....!!! Charlton Heston just grows a mustache and presto!!! He's a Mexican. You can't beat that! Anyways what are some of the films I'm missing?? [/quote] I've seen all of these except for Fury, and they are all fantastic!! You MUST see these: Born to Kill Murder, My Sweet Out of the Past And these are also highly recommended and are all listed as film-noir on IMDB (for what it's worth): Sunset Blvd. The Big Sleep White Heat The Night of the Hunter Strangers on a Train The Third Man The Maltese Falcon And if you liked Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street you should check out another one of my favorites from him, Shock Corridor.
]]>Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:53:11 GMTRisseladaCommunity Recommendations1/8/2009 6:53:11 PM[quote user="leeroy711"] I feel like I've recently re-discovered the noir genre. I just watched The Killing last night and I loved it. As with Fuller's Pickup on South Street. I had previously been a fan of Fritz Lang's older German movies, but now I've seen Fury and I need to see more of his American stuff. And after watching Touch of Evil, I can't understand why Citizen Kane is known as Orson Welle's best work.. I mean c'mon....!!! Charlton Heston just grows a mustache and presto!!! He's a Mexican. You can't beat that! Anyways what are some of the films I'm missing?? [/quote] I've seen all of these except for Fury, and they are all fantastic!! You MUST see these: Born to Kill Murder, My Sweet Out of the Past And these are also highly recommended and are all listed as film-noir on IMDB (for what it's worth): Sunset Blvd. The Big Sleep White Heat The Night of the Hunter Strangers on a Train The Third Man The Maltese Falcon And if you liked Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street you should check out another one of my favorites from him, Shock Corridor. http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_July_14_The_Angry_Mob/625/32556/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 7/14/2008 8:42:12 PM
Body: Aside from some of my favorites that were already mentioned (M, Edward Scissorhands) I have to say one of the best angry mobs is in Xala. A group of disenfranchised disfigured and destitute storm the home of a wealthy politician, strip him down and proceed to take turns spitting their disease ridden mucus all over him. Fun times. Without straying too far from the topic (the rebellions of films like Battleship Potempkin, Mutiny on the Bounty, Cutthroat Island, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.) some of the mob scenes that stick out in my mind are: Citizen Ruth - Loaded with mobs of crazy anti-abortionists. The Dreamers - At the end of the film when the mob of students storm through the streets. The Night of the Hunter Elvira, Mistress of the Dark - Hilariously bad movie with a great mob of prudish townsfolk. A Nightmare on Elm Street - Brief but essential. Dogville - I know this is bending what exactly constitutes an "angry mob" but the conspiratorial townspeople are just completely fucked up and mob-like in this movie so I had to add it.
]]>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:42:12 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme7/14/2008 8:42:12 PMAside from some of my favorites that were already mentioned (M, Edward Scissorhands) I have to say one of the best angry mobs is in Xala. A group of disenfranchised disfigured and destitute storm the home of a wealthy politician, strip him down and proceed to take turns spitting their disease ridden mucus all over him. Fun times. Without straying too far from the topic (the rebellions of films like Battleship Potempkin, Mutiny on the Bounty, Cutthroat Island, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.) some of the mob scenes that stick out in my mind are: Citizen Ruth - Loaded with mobs of crazy anti-abortionists. The Dreamers - At the end of the film when the mob of students storm through the streets. The Night of the Hunter Elvira, Mistress of the Dark - Hilariously bad movie with a great mob of prudish townsfolk. A Nightmare on Elm Street - Brief but essential. Dogville - I know this is bending what exactly constitutes an "angry mob" but the conspiratorial townspeople are just completely fucked up and mob-like in this movie so I had to add it. http://www.spout.com/blogs/cinemarian/archive/2008/5/12/28497.aspx Post By: CinemaRian
Post To: CinemaRian Blog
Post Date: 5/12/2008 9:54:23 AM
Body: It's not hard to see every film directed by Sir Charles Laughton- rent The Night of the Hunter and you observe the great character actor's entire work as auteur in a one stop shop. A lot of people really like this picture and use that tired yet occasionally appropriate phrase "masterpiece" to describe it, but the picture is really quite shallow. It's not hard to see why it's so well respected. It's a very dense movie. With a lot of metaphors, Biblical and otherwise. It's also defiantly formalist at a time when the American film industry was steeped in classicism. Great goals, but the movie so darn stupid. The movie essentially a battle between of total evil, personified by Harry Potter (Robert Mitchum) and complete good personified by Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish). Guess who wins? Potter is a criminal who half believes that he is who pretends to be- a Southern evangelical preacher. While serving a term in jail he learns that his condemned cellmate (Peter Graves) has hidden a great deal of stolen money somewhere on his property, so he moves in and marries his crazed widow (Shelley Winters). The only people who do know are the children: John (Billy Chapin) and Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce). The psychopathic Potter knows they know, however, and is prepared to commit any crime to get them to talk. To give credit where credit is due, this film, directed by a great actor, features to great performances. It's probably Mitchum's best, as he's permitted to completely let loose and not try to play a psychologically realistic character. Even better is Lillian Gish as Rachel, who aside from the very beginning doesn't appear until the last third of the film, to its detriment. Laughton also gives the movie a very unique look, heavily influenced by Orson Welles, as well some interesting use of music. But after awhile Laughton's camera tricks gets tiresome and the picture is eventually boring as you realize that there is really no substance beneath them. The movies act likes its saying some profound statement but all it's really saying is that good is better than evil. Really? I noticed that! Laughton misses some real opportunities for some psychological commentary concerning John's outlook on life. The movie could have dug a lot deeper had it dealt with some of the questions of whether he will follow in his father's violent footsteps, a la Shane. Yes, Laughton and screenwriter James Agee throw out a lot literary references, but so what? They don't make the movie any smarter. The Night of the Hunter is basically an extremely well shot and well acted b thriller, but somehow not as fun. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
]]>Mon, 12 May 2008 13:54:23 GMTCinemaRianCinemaRian Blog5/12/2008 9:54:23 AMIt's not hard to see every film directed by Sir Charles Laughton- rent The Night of the Hunter and you observe the great character actor's entire work as auteur in a one stop shop. A lot of people really like this picture and use that tired yet occasionally appropriate phrase "masterpiece" to describe it, but the picture is really quite shallow. It's not hard to see why it's so well respected. It's a very dense movie. With a lot of metaphors, Biblical and otherwise. It's also defiantly formalist at a time when the American film industry was steeped in classicism. Great goals, but the movie so darn stupid. The movie essentially a battle between of total evil, personified by Harry Potter (Robert Mitchum) and complete good personified by Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish). Guess who wins? Potter is a criminal who half believes that he is who pretends to be- a Southern evangelical preacher. While serving a term in jail he learns that his condemned cellmate (Peter Graves) has hidden a great deal of stolen money somewhere on his property, so he moves in and marries his crazed widow (Shelley Winters). The only people who do know are the children: John (Billy Chapin) and Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce). The psychopathic Potter knows they know, however, and is prepared to commit any crime to get them to talk. To give credit where credit is due, this film, directed by a great actor, features to great performances. It's probably Mitchum's best, as he's permitted to completely let loose and not try to play a psychologically realistic character. Even better is Lillian Gish as Rachel, who aside from the very beginning doesn't appear until the last third of the film, to its detriment. Laughton also gives the movie a very unique look, heavily influenced by Orson Welles, as well some interesting use of music. But after awhile Laughton's camera tricks gets tiresome and the picture is eventually boring as you realize that there is really no substance beneath them. The movies act likes its saying some profound statement but all it's really saying is that good is better than evil. Really? I noticed that! Laughton misses some real opportunities for some psychological commentary concerning John's outlook on life. The movie could have dug a lot deeper had it dealt with some of the questions of whether he will follow in his father's violent footsteps, a la Shane. Yes, Laughton and screenwriter James Agee throw out a lot literary references, but so what? They don't make the movie any smarter. The Night of the Hunter is basically an extremely well shot and well acted b thriller, but somehow not as fun. The Night of the Hunter (1955) http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspxlove
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]]>Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:02:24 GMT131216Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/thrilling/MemberTagFilms.aspxthrilling
Number of films tagged: 15

Number of people who tagged: 11

Number of times used: 16

]]>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:13:35 GMT151116Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/doll/MemberTagFilms.aspxdoll
Number of films tagged: 116

Number of people who tagged: 10

Number of times used: 12

]]>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:02:59 GMT1161012Tag