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The Night of the Hunter (1955) 8.2
Ratings:
8.2/10 from 40,777 users
Metascore: 99/100
Reviews: 314 user | 135 critic | 6 from Metacritic.com A religious fanatic marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real daddy hid $10,000 he'd stolen in a robbery. Director:Charles Laughton |
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Title: The Night of the Hunter (1955)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Robert Mitchum | ... | ||
| Shelley Winters | ... | ||
| Lillian Gish | ... | ||
| James Gleason | ... | ||
 |
Evelyn Varden | ... | |
| Peter Graves | ... | ||
| Don Beddoe | ... | ||
|
|
Billy Chapin | ... | |
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Sally Jane Bruce | ... | |
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Gloria Castillo | ... |
Ruby
(as Gloria Castilo)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Emmett Lynn | ... |
Birdie Steptoe
(scenes deleted)
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Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Harry Powell marries and murders widows for their money, believing he is helping God do away with women who arouse men's carnal instincts. Arrested for auto theft, he shares a cell with condemned killer Ben Harper and tries to get him to reveal the whereabouts of the $10,000 he stole. Only Ben's nine-year-old son, John and four-year-old daughter, Pearl know the money is in Pearl's doll and they have sworn to their father to keep this secret. After Ben is executed, Preacher goes to Cresap's Landing to court Ben's widow, Willa. He overwhelms her with his Scripture quoting, sermons and hymns, and she agrees to marry him. On their wedding night he tells her they will never have sex because it is sinful. When the depressed, confused, guilty woman catches him trying to force Pearl to reveal the whereabouts of the money, she is resigned to her fate but the children manage to escape downriver, with Preacher following close behind. Written by alfiehitchie
Taglines:
The Hands Of ROBERT MITCHUM in "The Night of the Hunter" See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
24 November 1955 (Argentina) See more »Also Known As:
La noche del cazador See more »Filming Locations:
CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Box Office
Budget:
$795,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1
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(uncredited)
Composers unknown
Played on guitar and sung by James Gleason
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Later on in life, Robert Mitchum, who was usually indifferent to such matters, said that Charles Laughton was his favorite director and indicated that this was his favorite of the movies in which he had acted. See more »Goofs
On the riverside when Willa and Harry are talking, Willa's hands and purse are resting on the edge of her knees. In the next shot, however, her hands and purse are in her lap. See more »Quotes
Rev. Harry Powell: [when he notices John staring at the words "love" and "hate" tattooed across his knuckles] Ah, little lad, you're staring at my fingers. Would you like me to tell you the little story of right-hand/left-hand? The story of good and evil? H-A-T-E! It was with this left hand that old brother Cain struck the blow that laid his brother low. L-O-V-E! You see these fingers, dear hearts? These fingers has veins that run straight to the soul of man. The right hand, friends, the hand of love. Now watch, ...See more »
Soundtracks
"Cresap's Landing Party"(uncredited)
Composers unknown
Played on guitar and sung by James Gleason
See more »
One of the best suspense films ever made. Exquisite art direction: moody, scary, sometimes lyrically beautiful. Yet there are comical and even idyllic moments. Mitchum is EXCELLENT, especially in the cellar scene. Subtle, different; not just the same old ax-after-ax tear-'em-up blood-and-gore formula, but REAL suspense built from the personalities of the characters and the artful editing, music, art direction, and Charles Laughton's directing. Yet warm and lovely in parts. The cast's characterizations are excellent, even in minor roles, such as the "typical townspeople". You'll remember this one for a long time. Maybe not for kids under 12, as the frightening parts are too much like real life (compared to run-of-the-mill horrendous movies) and might leave unsettling memories.