Retro review: The Night Of The Hunter (1955)

~ beetleypete

I was too young to see this film in the cinema, so had to settle for a late-night TV showing, when I was around 12 years old. Directed by the estimable Charles Laughton, this film stars Robert Mitchum in one of his finest performances, ably assisted by Shelly Winters, Lilian Gish, and Peter Graves.

Set in West Virginia, during the depression-era 1930s, Mitchum plays Reverend Harry Powell, a fire and brimstone travelling preacher, who hides a dark secret. He is a serial killer, a fake preacher, and a man without a conscience. During a short spell in prison for car theft, he meets a man called Ben Harper, who has killed two men during a robbery. Harper confides in Powell, telling him he has hidden the loot at his home, and nobody will find it. When Harper is executed for his crime, Powell travels to Ben’s home town to meet his widow, and search for the concealed loot.

He soon charms the devout widow, Willa, (Shelly Winters) and tries to ingratiate himself with her two children too. But the boy, John Harper, is suspicious of the supposedly affable reverend, though his sister Pearl accepts him. He even marries Willa, claiming to want to care for her and the children. But when she discovers his true intentions, he kills her, and hides her body. Powell tells all the local people that Willa has run away, and left him alone to care for the children. They all rally round to help, and feel sorry for him.

The reverend eventually discovers that the money is hidden in Pearl’s rag doll, and the children run away. They hide at the home of a local old lady, Rachel Cooper, (Gish) as Powell tries to hunt them down.

This is an excellent film, with convincing performances from all involved, and a great sense of menace instilled by Laughton’s near-perfect direction, unusual camera angles, and stark black and white cinematography. At times, it is also very frightening, as Mitchum goes from concerned and caring preacher, to psychotic maniac. It is undoubtedly his film, and he commands every scene he is in by totally inhabiting the character of Powell.
Highly recommended.

45 thoughts on “Retro review: The Night Of The Hunter (1955)”

  3. I don’t think I’ve seen this film. I have seen it referenced a lot. When it would be played on tv after its Cinema days I suppose I would be about 10-13ish. My parents would consider it too unsuitable for me! The same fate I do remember being applied to The Outlaw along with Jane Russell and her pneumatic breasts!! (I did eventually see that one and couldn’t see what the fuss was about!)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. When I was a kid, there was a station that would play one movie a week – 5 times. Being as Robert Mitchem is one of my all-time favorites – guess who watched this film 5 times? Oh, you guessed it!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. I too saw this on TV during the 60s, only watched it once, but I remember that it was a great film.I was moved to read the book, which had been a big bestseller in the 50s. My mother still had a hardcover copy of it a decade later.

    Cheers!
    Susan

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

All comments welcome

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.