Night of the Hunter (1991) (TV)

User Rating:

4.0/10   

Director:

David Greene

Writers (WGA):

Davis Grubb (novel)
Edmond Stevens (teleplay)

Release Date:

5 May 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

He preached against 'suffer the little children.' Then he went out and practised it. [Video]

Plot:

A false preacher ingratiates himself with a dead man's family to find where he hid the money from a robbery. |

Plot Keywords:

Preacher | Children In Peril | Treasure | Remake | Murder

Cast

Richard Chamberlain	...	Harry Powell
Diana Scarwid	...	Willa Harper
Amy Bebout	...	Pearl Harper
Reid Binion	...	John Harper
Ray McKinnon	...	Ben Harper
Mary Nell Santacroce	...	Mrs. Spoon
Burgess Meredith	...	Birdy
Ed Grady	...	Walt
Joe Inscoe	...	Lieutenant
Bobby McLamb	...	Parson
Rich Valliere	...	Store Owner
George Nannarello	...	Bingo Caller
Jeffrey Pillars	...	Mechanic (as Jeff Pillars)
Pat Hall	...	Pentecostal Witness
Dick Olsen	...	Fire Chief

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG (video rating)

Company:

Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: At the beginning of the second sequence in the doll factory, when Mrs. Spon approaches Willa to tell her it's lunchtime.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Night of the Hunter (1955)

Can't improve on perfection.

This is further proof that good (no, GREAT) movies shouldn't be remade. Richard Chamberlain, good actor that he is, is not suited for this role. Robert Mitchum's Harry was cunning enough to hide this evil streak from Shelley Winter's Lylah until it was too late. Chamberlain's Harry is so high strung, it's a wonder that Dianne Wiest's Lylah isn't packing the kids up and running within five minutes of meeting him. Maybe this film, the made-for-TV versions of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (remade as IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS) should stand as testament that you just CAN'T improve upon greatness no matter how hard you try.