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IMDbPro

The Night of the Hunter

  • 19551955
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
89K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,446
1,436
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Watch Trailer
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
89K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,446
1,436
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • 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
    • 497User reviews
    • 212Critic reviews
    • 99Metascore
    • 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

    Photos129

    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 Powell
    Shelley Winters
    Shelley Winters
    • Willa Harper
    Lillian Gish
    Lillian Gish
    • Rachel Cooper
    James Gleason
    James Gleason
    • Uncle Birdie Steptoe
    Evelyn Varden
    Evelyn Varden
    • Icey Spoon
    Peter Graves
    Peter Graves
    • Ben Harper
    Don Beddoe
    Don Beddoe
    • Walt Spoon
    Billy Chapin
    Billy Chapin
    • John Harper
    Sally Jane Bruce
    Sally Jane Bruce
    • Pearl Harper
    Gloria Castillo
    Gloria Castillo
    • Ruby
    • (as Gloria Castilo)
    Corey Allen
    Corey Allen
    • Young Man in Town
    • (uncredited)
    Oscar Blank
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bryar
    Paul Bryar
    • Bart the Hangman
    • (uncredited)
    Nora Bush
    • Townswoman
    • (uncredited)
    Cheryl Callaway
    • Mary
    • (uncredited)
    Alexander Campbell
    Alexander Campbell
    • Judge
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Chapin
    Michael Chapin
    • Ruby's Boyfriend
    • (uncredited)
    Noble 'Kid' Chissell
    Noble 'Kid' Chissell
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Charles Laughton
    • Writers
      • Davis Grubb(from the novel by)
      • James Agee(screenplay by)
      • Charles Laughton(screenplay contributor) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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
      (at around 59 mins) The turtle that John says could be made into soup is actually a desert tortoise, not found in West Virginia/Kentucky.
    • Quotes

      Rachel Cooper: It's a hard world for little things.

    • 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 reviews497

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    Brilliant One of a Kind
    This movie could have fallen apart in so many places, crafted as it is from many diverse parts. Expressionism vs. naturalism, fable vs. social commentary, dream vs. reality, convention vs. experiment. Yet somehow these disparate elements not only hold together, they soar together, into film making heights. I'm almost tempted to say miraculously so, because on paper such opposing styles would seem to resist any kind of meaningful synthesis. Yet there it is, on the screen, an almost seamless work of movie-making art. After so many reviews - a testament to Hunter's mesmerizing effect - there is little left to say. Except to observe that if the film's brain is Director Laughton, and its eyes Stanley Cortez, then its heart (which is considerable) comes from screen writer James Agee. Literary conscience of the Great Depression, Agee makes of this modern day fairy tale a moving tribute to children of all times who have had to struggle against forces so much bigger and more knowing than themselves. Cast adrift in an alien world, they can only hope for the best, which amounts to trusting in the presence somewhere of a benevolent force to protect them. John and Pearl are lucky. Other children as Agee well knew are not so lucky. In an odd way, this is a conscionable movie about spiritual compassion that Hollywood too often turned into emotional mush, but not here. Too bad this neglected masterpiece was not so recognized during Laughton's lifetime.
    helpful•5
    1
    • dougdoepke
    • Nov 12, 2015

    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
      • July 27, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Nacht des Jägers
    • 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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