Rating: 
Summary: Should have been a Masterpiece
Review: The Night of the Hunter is a film often cited as being "one of the greatest American movies" and a masterpiece. There's little doubt that it is an outstanding film on several levels, unfortunately its obvious flaws ensure that it fails to live up to its high promise. The sentimental opening sequence(in the vein of It's a Wonderful life) is irrelevant and doesn't set the right tone for the nightmarish proceedings that follow. The standard musical score isn't the most effective composed for this type of movie and in the final 45 minutes Charles Laughton's ingenious style crucially overwhelmes the fading narrative. That's to say, the movie is one of two halves: the first being a suspenseful, compelling, frightening study of a psychopathic preacher striking terror in a small community and the second half being an exercise in what happens when the suspense sadly sinks along with with everything that was good before it. The direction is ambiguous and unique; short and effective scenes of unbearable tension and fleeting images complementing Robert Mitchum's transcendent performace in the lead role and managing to conceal the careless holes in the script. Some scenes feature no dialogue at all and move from one image to the next, a trick which Kubrick used effectively for 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, the disappointing anti-climax was inevitable as soon as the two children find shelter with the religious community after sailing away from their nemesis. Whether this is carelessness or inexperience behind the camera (Laughton only directed this movie) remains to be seen. Had the second half of the movie matched the brilliance of the first half then it would have been a masterpiece. Shame on you Laughton.
Rating:
Summary: Powerfull and scary, it's Mitchum at his best (worst).
Review: This was one of those movies that I heard so much about I just had to see it. After seeing Robert Mitchum in Cape Fear I realized that he may very well be the most frightening villian you'll ever see.
The movie is about a man, Ben Harper played by Peter Graves,
who is condemmed to die and is in the same cell as Harry Powell (played by Mitchum). While in prison Powell learns of the cash Harper stole may still be around in his old home town. After Harpers death Powell, now dressed as a preacher, goes back to Harpers old town and marries Harpers widow (played be Shelly Winters).
During the movie you never feel that Mitchum is anything other than a ruthless animal looking for money and prepared to kill anyone, including children, to get it.
Mitchum proves that he is not just a great actor but also a very intense one. This may be his best and scariest role. P.S. Look for my review on Cape Fear both the original and the remake.
Rating:
Summary: Close to being a masterpiece
Review: The Night of the Hunter is a film often cited as being "one of the greatest American movies" and a masterpiece. There's little doubt that it is an outstanding film on many levels, unfortunately its obvious flaws ensure that it fails to live up to its high promise. The sentimental opening sequence(in the vein of It's a Wonderful life) is irrelevant and doesn't set the right tone for the nightmarish proceedings that follow. The standard score isn't the most effective made for this type of movie and by the final 45 minutes Charles Laughton's ingenious style crucially overwhelmes the fading narrative. That's to say, the movie is one of two halves: the first being a suspenseful, compelling, nightmarish study of a psychopathic preacher striking terror in a small community and the second half being an exercise in what happens when the suspense sadly sinks along with with everything that was good before it.
The direction is ambiguous and unique: short and effective scenes of unbearable tension and fleeting images complementing Robert Mitchum's terrifying performace in the lead role and managing to conceal the careless holes in the script. Some scenes feature no dialogue at all and move from one image to the next, a trick which Kubrick used effectively for 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, the disappointing anti-climax was inevitable as soon as the two children find shelter after sailing away from their nemesis. Whether this is carelessness or inexperience behind the camera (Laughton only directed this movie) remains to be seen.
Rating: 
Summary: Where's The Other Davis Grubb Thriller Masterpiece Movie !?
Review: The "Night of the Hunter" a superb classic masterpiece thriller 1956 movie starring Robert Mitchum based on the Novel written by Davis Grubb who also had another great masterpiece suspense thriller movie made back in 1971"Fools Parade"based on the the novel by the same title starring James Stewart,George Kennedy and a young Kurt Russell in a rare non-disney role that unfortunately has never been released on vhs/dvd plus the film trailer in the US, but hopefully in the future will,it would be a smashing hit and a cult classic,so spread the word,it's been very long,long overdue!!Both Davis Grubb masterpiece movies"The Night of the Hunter" and "Fools Parade"were filmed on location in his hometown of Moundsville West Virginia.Video Distributors including the smaller ones should inquire about releasing this long overdue,overlooked gem"Fools Parade"!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Religious Allegory
Review: During the Great Depression a man robs a bank and kills two people in the process. He leaves the stolen money with his two small children and tells them to keep it secret and hidden. The $10,000 will be their inheritance from him. While awaiting execution on death row, the man reveals more than he would like to his cellmate, an evil "preacher" by the name of Harry Powell played by Robert Mitchum. Ostensibly, this film is about Powell's malevolent quest to take the money from the children but if you judge "Night of the Hunter" by that storyline, you'll be confronted by implausibility, a lot of over-the-top acting and odd, creepy imagery. This is an allegorical tale and it's not simply good against evil, it's God versus the Devil. Powell stands in for the least romanticized Satan perhaps ever seen on the silver screen. He is a liar and a killer motivated by hatred toward humanity. Yes, he is drawn by the stolen blood money. But does he really want the loot? Or does he actually prefer the children to use it to buy safety from his threats? Realize that the money was always his "fruit". In opposition, we eventually have is the sternly caring Mrs. Cooper played by Lillian Gish. Her motivation is pure, selfless love. She represents God, having in some (unexplained) way exchanged a son for the lost children she has taken into her home. Whereas the money belongs to Satan, her gift is a symbolic apple (not to be confused with the one in the Garden of Eden). It is a gift that's freely given and triumphantly given back. Movie watchers familiar with villians who are practically impossible to kill may be disappointed by the showdown. But keep in mind that this is God against the Devil. Those who are steeped in the Judeo-Christian understanding of the world, know the inevitable outcome. Not only does God not need worldly/corrupt help to defeat evil, she doesn't want it "tracking up her clean floors". The conflict here is about spiritual choices and who will take our souls rather than our lives. Is this a "great" movie? That probably depends on one's religious outlook. But "Night of the Hunter" is the kind of film that's rarely made. It has a distinct message that is starkly impressive when the veneer of allegory is removed. It's not "Cape Fear" so much as it is "Pilgrim's Progress".
Rating:
Summary: creepy...
Review: and quite funny as well. There are some unforgettable visuals in the film (ie. Winters submerged and still seated in her car, the trip down the river, the silhouetted form of the preacher on the horizon etc. etc. etc.) True, some of the acting (the children) is bizarre and a bit wooden, but nothing about this film is even attempting to portray "reality"...It's actually more like a funhouse mirror version of "our world" which distorts everything. This film is weird and wonderful!
Rating:
Summary: Leaning, leaning, leaning.....
Review: A father, Ben Harper, commits murder and steals $10,000, which he hides in a secret place the police will not search. The only people who know where the money is hidden are his son John and daughter Pearl. In prison where the father is anticipating his execution, he shares a cell with Rev. Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) who overhears Ben's secret about the money while he is talking in his sleep. When Ben is executed, Harry travels to the hometown of John and Pearl determined to find the money at all costs. The Night of the Hunter is a tremendously well written story that provides wise insights in human nature and the moral predicament of human ambiguity.
Rating:
Summary: A Spooky and Chilling Mitchum Classic
Review: "The Night of the Hunter" stars Robert Mitchum as the hypocritical and unholy preacher, Harry Powell. Harry Powell is a chilling villain, complete with LOVE and HATE tattooed on his knuckles. The story is about a man who robs a bank and kills some people. He is sentenced to be hanged. The man tells his son to hide the money, for one day it will be his. He makes his son promise to hide it at all costs. In his cell, he meets Harry Powell, who unsuccessfully attempts to find out where the money is hid. The man is hanged and Harry is soon released from prison. He charms the widow and tries to get the son to tell him where the money is hid. Soon, he eradicates the woman after getting married to her, and sets his sites on the children. Although this film is eerie and a classic, most of the characters are a bit annoying, except Robert Mitchum's Harry Powell. And Harry Powell doesn't even compare to Mitchum's psychopath character Max Cady in "Cape Fear". But, still, for those fans of Mitchum, I recommend this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Kissed by the fishes
Review: I was turned on to this movie by the lyrics of Ocean Life on the album Last Day On Earth by John Cale/Bob Neuwirth:
"I want to be buried at the bottom of the ocean
like Shelley Winters in The Night of the Hunter
My hair billowing, being kissed by the fishes ..."
This scene is truly memorable and is the screen equivalent of the famous painting "Ophelia", as is the flight of the children down the river. An interesting mix of suspense and humor ensure a varied emotional response. The startling imagery, brilliant acting and captivating plot make this a gothic classic, but it is by no means a uniformly dark movie. Certainly a masterpiece and years ahead of its time.
Rating:
Summary: 35mm Print
Review: A 35mm print is wider than 1.33:1. This dvd should be available in wide screen.
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