The Night Of The Hunter

The Night Of The Hunter is Exhibit A when you talk about films that are revered more now than they were when they came out. To many, this KEEPS getting better every time they see it. We're fans too. Charles Laughton was better known as a clever actor, but this was his directorial debut. For a first-time director, he pulled off a stylish allegory and scary fairy tale that's filled with surreal images. He and his team used light & shadows brilliantly. Now, we didn't love some of the performances and we took issue with the title of the film, although we have a theory about who really is the hunter. There's no questioning Robert Mitchum's work though. This is as vicious a villain as the tough guy ever played. He's a supposed man of god who's really just a violent misogynist who casually kills women...although in this story, he's motivated by money. Run away, kids! Billy Chapin and Sally Jane Bruce have as much screen-time as Mitchum does---although a very-effective Shelley Winters sure doesn't---in this chase/horror river voyage that deepens once Lillian Gish comes on the scene. So sit on the porch with a shotgun and abide the children---especially those with clandestine money---as our 533rd episode sees what's up in this Depression-era, child-endangerment movie.

Well, Actually: James Agee's Pulitzer Prize was for his 1957 autobiography called A Death In The Family. Also, we didn't get into this, but is Harry Powell actually a reverend...or is he lying about that too?

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