55
The
Night of the Hunter
Release date 29th September 1955
Country : USA
Running time : 93 mins
Genre : Thriller
Starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish
Screenplay by James Agee
Directed by Charles Laughton
A bogus preacher marries and murders a woman to get close to a stash of money. The children know where the money is and are chased across the swamps finally finding sanctuary with a kind old lady.
This was the only film directed by Charles Laughton, the great character actor star. Its dark style wasn't accepted back then but its reputation has increased greatly over the years. It is a film noir but unlike any ever made before or since, it has an almost dream like quality particularly in the scenes where the children are escaping from Robert Mitchum in the river, these recall the best cinematography of silent film. Despite the focus on the two children's plight this is definitely Mitchum's movie, he gives a superb performance as a sinister fake preacher who fools everyone in a small town including the doomed Shelley Winters who he marries to get a stash of money. The atmosphere of silent film is increased by the appearance of Lillian Gish as a kind old lady who gives the children sanctuary from Mitchum.
One of the most daring, eloquent and personal films to have come from America in a long time. Derek Prouse
Release date 29th September 1955
Country : USA
Running time : 93 mins
Genre : Thriller
Starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish
Screenplay by James Agee
Directed by Charles Laughton
A bogus preacher marries and murders a woman to get close to a stash of money. The children know where the money is and are chased across the swamps finally finding sanctuary with a kind old lady.
This was the only film directed by Charles Laughton, the great character actor star. Its dark style wasn't accepted back then but its reputation has increased greatly over the years. It is a film noir but unlike any ever made before or since, it has an almost dream like quality particularly in the scenes where the children are escaping from Robert Mitchum in the river, these recall the best cinematography of silent film. Despite the focus on the two children's plight this is definitely Mitchum's movie, he gives a superb performance as a sinister fake preacher who fools everyone in a small town including the doomed Shelley Winters who he marries to get a stash of money. The atmosphere of silent film is increased by the appearance of Lillian Gish as a kind old lady who gives the children sanctuary from Mitchum.
One of the most daring, eloquent and personal films to have come from America in a long time. Derek Prouse
DVD
available from MGM UA Home
Video:
DVD Times
The Digital Bits
DVD Beaver
(R1 v R2)
56 54
Written content copyright Derek McLellan,2005.
Copyright © The Fedora Chronicles
