The Night of the Hunter (1955)

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.

Director:

Charles Laughton

Writers:

Davis Grubb (from the novel by), James Agee (screenplay by)

Stars:

Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Mitchum	...	Harry Powell
Shelley Winters	...	Willa Harper
Lillian Gish	...	Rachel Cooper
James Gleason	...	Uncle Birdie Steptoe
Evelyn Varden	...	Icey Spoon
Peter Graves	...	Ben Harper
Don Beddoe	...	Walt Spoon
Billy Chapin	...	John Harper
Sally Jane Bruce	...	Pearl Harper
Gloria Castillo	...	Ruby (as Gloria Castilo)

Storyline

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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

widow | preacher | spanking | child | money | 

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Taglines:

This morning we were married... and now you think I'm going to kiss you, hold you, call you my wife!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the trial at the end of the movie, the crowd is chanting "Bluebeard!" This is in reference to a French folktale of a man who married several women and then killed them.

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Goofs

(at around 56 mins) When the children escape by the river, the boat goes down the river against the current.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Rachel Cooper: Now you remember, children, how I told you last Sunday about the good Lord going up into the mountain and talking to the people and how he said, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God"? And how he said that King Solomon in all his glory was not as beautiful as the lilies of the field? And I know you will not forget, "Judge not, lest you be judged," because I explained that to you. And then the good Lord went on to say, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in ...

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Terror from the Year 5000 (1997)

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Soundtracks

Cresap's Landing Party
(uncredited)
Composers unknown
Played on banjo and sung by James Gleason

User Reviews

A must-see for lovers of art cinema and suspense. Exquisite!

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.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 November 1955 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

The Night of the Hunter

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$795,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paul Gregory Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1