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The Night of the Hunter

  • 19551955
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
86K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,927
21
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:35
3 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir

A religious fanatic marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real daddy hid the $10,000 he'd stolen in a robbery.A religious fanatic marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real daddy hid the $10,000 he'd stolen in a robbery.A religious fanatic marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real daddy hid the $10,000 he'd stolen in a robbery.

IMDb RATING
8.0/10
86K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,927
21
  • Director
    • Charles Laughton
  • Writers
    • Davis Grubb(from the novel by)
    • James Agee(screenplay by)
    • Charles Laughton(screenplay contributor)
  • Stars
    • Robert Mitchum
    • Shelley Winters
    • Lillian Gish
Top credits
  • Director
    • Charles Laughton
  • Writers
    • Davis Grubb(from the novel by)
    • James Agee(screenplay by)
    • Charles Laughton(screenplay contributor)
  • Stars
    • Robert Mitchum
    • Shelley Winters
    • Lillian Gish
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 481User reviews
    • 219Critic reviews
    • 99Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Videos3

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:35
    Trailer
    The Night of the Hunter
    Trailer 1:41
    The Night of the Hunter
    The Night of the Hunter
    Trailer 1:40
    The Night of the Hunter

    Photos126

    Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum, Sally Jane Bruce, and Billy Chapin in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Sally Jane Bruce, and Billy Chapin in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish, and Gloria Castillo in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Lillian Gish, Sally Jane Bruce, Cheryl Callaway, Gloria Castillo, Billy Chapin, and Mary Ellen Clemons in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum and Lillian Gish in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum, Sally Jane Bruce, and Billy Chapin in The Night of the Hunter (1955)
    Robert Mitchum Nigt Of The Hunter (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Mitchum
    Robert Mitchum
    • Harry Powellas Harry Powell
    Shelley Winters
    Shelley Winters
    • Willa Harperas Willa Harper
    Lillian Gish
    Lillian Gish
    • Rachel Cooperas Rachel Cooper
    James Gleason
    James Gleason
    • Uncle Birdie Steptoeas Uncle Birdie Steptoe
    Evelyn Varden
    Evelyn Varden
    • Icey Spoonas Icey Spoon
    Peter Graves
    Peter Graves
    • Ben Harperas Ben Harper
    Don Beddoe
    Don Beddoe
    • Walt Spoonas Walt Spoon
    Billy Chapin
    Billy Chapin
    • John Harperas John Harper
    Sally Jane Bruce
    Sally Jane Bruce
    • Pearl Harperas Pearl Harper
    Gloria Castillo
    Gloria Castillo
    • Rubyas Ruby
    • (as Gloria Castilo)
    Corey Allen
    Corey Allen
    • Young Man in Townas Young Man in Town
    • (uncredited)
    Oscar Blank
    • Townsmanas Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bryar
    Paul Bryar
    • Bart the Hangmanas Bart the Hangman
    • (uncredited)
    Nora Bush
    • Townswomanas Townswoman
    • (uncredited)
    Cheryl Callaway
    • Maryas Mary
    • (uncredited)
    Alexander Campbell
    Alexander Campbell
    • Judgeas Judge
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Chapin
    Michael Chapin
    • Ruby's Boyfriendas Ruby's Boyfriend
    • (uncredited)
    Noble 'Kid' Chissell
    Noble 'Kid' Chissell
    • Townsmanas Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Charles Laughton
    • Writers
      • Davis Grubb(from the novel by)
      • James Agee(screenplay by)
      • Charles Laughton(screenplay contributor) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    It's the Great Depression. In the process of robbing a bank of $10,000, Ben Harper kills two people. Before he is captured, he is able to convince his adolescent son John and his daughter Pearl not to tell anyone, including their mother Willa, where he hid the money, namely in Pearl's favorite toy, a doll that she carries everywhere with her. Ben, who is captured, tried and convicted, is sentenced to death. But before he is executed, Ben is in the state penitentiary with a cell mate, a man by the name of Harry Powell, a self-professed man of the cloth, who is really a con man and murderer, swindling lonely women, primarily rich widows, of their money before he kills them. Harry does whatever he can, unsuccessfully, to find out the location of the $10,000 from Ben. After Ben's execution, Harry decides that Willa will be his next mark, figuring that someone in the family knows where the money is hidden. Despite vowing not to remarry, Willa ends up being easy prey for Harry's outward evangelicalism; she is a pious woman who feels she needs to atone for her sins which led to Ben doing what he did, especially as Harry presents himself as the preacher who worked at the prison and provided salvation to Ben before his death. Harry quickly figures out that John and Pearl know where the money is. Conversely, John doesn't trust Harry, John who first tries not to show to Harry that he indeed does know where the money is, and then second constantly reminds a more-trusting Pearl of their promise to their now-deceased father. With Willa devoted to her new husband, John and Pearl need some other adult assistance in evading Harry's veiled threats, an adult who not only can see the honesty and goodness in children but who can also see a true wolf in sheep's clothing like Harry. —Huggo
    widowpreacherspankingmoneydoll344 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The scenes...the story...The stars BUT ABOVE ALL - THE SUSPENSE!
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Film-Noir
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sequence with Powell riding a horse in the distance was actually a dwarf on a pony. It was filmed in false perspective.
    • Goofs
      A man who is sentenced to only thirty days for a misdemeanor would be sent to the county jail, and not the state penitentiary, and thus, would never be sharing a cell with a condemned man on death row.
    • 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, and I'll show you the story of life. Those fingers, dear hearts, is always a-warring and a-tugging, one agin t'other. Now watch 'em! Old brother left hand, left hand he's a fighting, and it looks like love's a goner. But wait a minute! Hot dog, love's a winning! Yessirree! It's love that's won, and old left hand hate is down for the count!

    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: La monnaie de l'absolu (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Dream, Little One, Dream
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Arranged by Walter Schumann

      Sung by a chorus during the opening credits

      Reprised offscreen by an unidentified female when the chldren are on the run

    User reviews481

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Outstanding acting , fascinating camera-work and extraordinary direction by Charles Laughton
    This is a nightmarish tale of a psychopathic preacher named Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum). Ben Harper (Peter Graves) commits killings and he hides the money , promising his sons -Pearl and John- silence about the secret place where it is stashed . While Harper is in prison meets lugubrious preacher Powell who has the words ¨Hate¨ tattooed on the knuckles of his left hand and ¨Love¨ on his right . One time condemned Ben to death penalty , Harry is freed from jail and goes Harper's home where lures Willa (Shelley Winters) and after he marries her in the hopes of getting the cache of money . Later on , the kids are protected by Rachel (Lilian Gish) when Powell threatens them , she's a valiant old lady , rifle wielding and Bible-reading .

    This is an ogre-tale in which the psychotic baddie is a bogus preacher. It's a rare film noir , a classic of bizarre beauty and extraordinary performances , totally unique in Hollywood history . A perfect collaboration between novel author : David Grubb , the great screenwriter : James Agee , the cameraman : Cortez and director Laughton . This unusual , odd picture is proceeded under point of sight the children , describing mysterious scenarios and has its moments of strange images , such as the magic journey across the river . Dutch-born American serial killer Harry Powers was the inspiration for the Preacher . Top-notch Robert Mitchum in the acting of his life along with ¨Cape fear¨, he said that Charles Laughton was his favorite director and indicated that this was his favorite of the movies in which he had acted . Magnificent Lilian Gish as old lady who defends the children wielding her shotgun . Special mention for James Gleason as an old drunk who lives on a cottage by the river . Stanley Cortez's masterly cinematography drew heavily from photographers Nicholas Musuraka and John Alton , noir cinema's masters , in its use of lights , darkness and shadows to originate apprehension , suspense , mood and fear . Splendid musical score by Walter Schumann with sensitive lyrics and songs creating a hypnotic atmosphere . This masterpiece was wonderfully directed by great actor Charles Laughton , his only film behind the cameras , however being a flop on original release and he was never again to be offered the film-making another movie . Rating : Over-the-top film , above average . Indispensable and essential watching.
    helpful•16
    12
    • ma-cortes
    • Jul 1, 2009

    FAQ11

    • Why do multiple characters such as Mr. Spoon and Bart refer their respective wives as "Mother" on multiple occasions?
    • What is 'The Night of the Hunter' about?
    • Is 'The Night of the Hunter' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1955 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La Nuit du Chasseur
    • Filming locations
      • Moundsville, West Virginia, USA
    • Production company
      • Paul Gregory Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $795,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,001
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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