In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.
Robert Mitchum
Preacher Harry Powell
Billy Chapin
John Harper
Sally Jane Bruce
Pearl Harper
Shelley Winters
Willa Harper
Lillian Gish
Rachel Cooper
James Gleason
Uncle Birdie Steptoe
Evelyn Varden
Icey Spoon
Don Beddoe
Walt Spoon
Peter Graves
Ben Harper
James Griffith
District Attorney
Gloria Castillo
Ruby
Gloria Pall
Burlesque Dancer
Paul Bryar
Bart
Cheryl Callaway
Mary
Alexander Campbell
Judge
Michael Chapin
Ruby's Boyfriend
Roy Engel
Sheriff
Kay Lavelle
Miz Cunningham
Frances Morris
Bart's Wife
Rudy Germane
Townsman (uncredited)
Director, Screenplay
Charles Laughton
Novel
Davis Grubb
Screenplay
James Agee
March 22, 2016
The only film directed by the great English actor Charles Laughton, "The Night of the Hunter" is a brilliant allegory about the battle between good and evil. The film failed upon its release but is now considered a classic. Robert Mitchum has never been better as the malevolent "preacher" who marries the hapless Shelley Winters. Mitchum had been in prison with Winters husband and knows there is money to be had from a robbery the deceased husband committed, but where is it? Though Shelley falls under Mitchum"s twisted religious zeal, her children a little boy and girl instinctively know this man is bad, bad, bad. Spoiler alert: Shelley Comes to a watery end and the children must flee from Mitchum who has discovered the money is hidden in little Pearl's doll. After an arduous journey mainly by boat (the Ohio river?) John and Pearl come to rest in the saintly arms of the magnificent Lillian Gish. But Mitchum is relentless in his pursuit and that is when the eternal battle between good and evil is fought one more time. I will not reveal which side prevails but let's just say for an old broad Lillian is a formidable opponent. A film I saw as a young boy it left an impression on me that was powerful. A deeply disturbing yet uplifting movie "Night of the Hunter" is not to be missed. This is Gummshoe signing off with two fists up for "Night of the Hunter."
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$795,000.00
Revenue:
$0.00