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Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, Billy Chapin, Evelyn Varden ... see more see more... , Peter Graves , James Gleason , Sally Jane Bruce , Don Beddoe , Gloria Castillo , Mary Ellen Clemons , Cheryl Callaway , Paul Bryar , Corey Allen

Adapted by James Agee from a novel by Davis Grubb, The Night of the Hunter represented legendary actor Charles Laughton's only film directing effort. Combining stark realism with Germanic expressionis... read more read more...m, the movie is a brilliant good-and-evil parable, with "good" represented by a couple of farm kids and a pious old lady, and "evil" literally in the hands of a posturing psychopath. Imprisoned with thief Ben Harper (Peter Graves), phony preacher Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) learns that Ben has hidden a huge sum of money somewhere near his home. Upon his release, the murderously misogynistic Powell insinuates himself into Ben's home, eventually marrying his widow Willa (Shelley Winters). Eventually all that stands between Powell and the money are Ben's son (Billy Chapin) and daughter (Sally Jane Bruce), who take refuge in a home for abandoned children presided over by the indomitable, scripture-quoting Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish). The war of wills between Mitchum and Gish is the heart of the film's final third, a masterful blend of horror and lyricism. Laughton's tight, disciplined direction is superb -- and all the more impressive when one realizes that he intensely disliked all child actors. The music by Walter Schumann and the cinematography of Stanley Cortez are every bit as brilliant as the contributions by Laughton and Agee. Overlooked on its first release, The Night of the Hunter is now regarded as a classic. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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21,334 ratings

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98% liked it

45 critics

PG, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Charles Laughton

Release Date: January 1, 1955

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DVD Release Date: May 15, 2001

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Stats: 1,801 reviews

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Laughton filming 'The Night of the Hunter' Mitchum and Laughton on the set Sally Jane Bruce and Charles Laughton Mitch as Harry Powell Robert Mitchum, Billy Chapin and Sally Jane Bruce 'The Night of the Hunter' Billy Chapin as John Harper Lillian Gish as Rachel Cooper Mitch as Harry Powell 'The Night of the Hunter' Lillian Gish, Robert Mitchum and Gloria Castillo Sally Jane Bruce and Billy Chapin Billy Chapin as John Harper Mitch as Harry Powell Mitch as Harry Powell 'The Night of the Hunter' 'The Night of the Hunter' Lillian Gish as Rachel Cooper
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Flixster Reviews (1,801)

  • axadntpron
    November 9, 2011
    axadntpron
    Sad that this was a one off for Mr. Laughton. Everyone knows he was a terrific actor, but this film shows that he had some directing chops as well. Some of these scenes are shot so well that you cannot help but be saddened by the fact that we cannot see future work by the directo... read morer. If Laughton was given more films to really let his abilities mature, then this film would be looked at as an early piece from a great American auteur, rather than an odd departure for a respected actor.
    It is an odd film. The tone often vacillates between sweetness and sheer terror. Which is quite an accomplishment considering Mitchum's complex character. While we're on the subject of Mitchum, I cannot imagine another actor pulling off such a larger than life villain, without it seeming way too over the top. Mitchum just makes it look easy.
    It may be an odd film, but I think it is the oddity that gives it originality. With originality comes the risk of turning off the masses. Yet, this film should not be looked at as a failure by any means even though it didn't rake in lots of money. It is a thoroughly impressive debut feature and a brief glimpse into what could have been a long, illustrious directing career, had money not gotten in the way.
  • fb1576983399
    November 8, 2011
    fb1576983399
    56 years later the movie is laughable, but once you get passed the restrictions that 1955 put on this film it is pretty good. It all depends on what context you take it in. I think it is a decent film thanks to Robert Mitchum.
  • fb1664868775
    October 27, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Great performance from Mitchum. Truly freaky and surprising subject matter for a film from 1955.
  • lewiskendell
    September 28, 2011
    lewiskendell
    A charismatic, charming, psychopathic, murderous "man of God" charms his way into a family and menaces the children in order to find out the location of some hidden money.

    The Night of the Hunter is an incredibly suspenseful and sinister movie, like a Hitchcock film in all the ... read morebest ways. Great acting all around, especially from the kids, but Robert Mitchum steals the spotlight as Harry Powell, a villain for the ages. The cinematography is excellent too, with a few absolutely outstanding shots that show the beauty of what can be achieved in black and white.

    I'll admit that the very end of The Night of the Hunter lost me slightly, it almost feels like it's from another movie entirely and just doesn't fit well with the tone of the rest of the film. But other than that quibble, this is yet another classic that I'm happy to finally have gotten to check out.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    August 5, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Childreeeen.....
  • garyX
    April 3, 2011
    garyX
    A self-styled preacher and woman hating murderer insinuates himself into the life of a young widow whose husband stashed his stolen loot somewhere at his home. Night Of The Hunter has a lot to commend it; Robert Mitchum's creepy performance concretes his Cape Fear inspired reputa... read moretion as film noir pyscho of choice and he is ably aided by a hollow eyed Shelley Winters as the unfortunate victim of his attentions and Lillian Gish as the goodhearted, wily old bird who ultimately proves his undoing. And as for the visuals, there are more stunning images to be seen in this single film than most directors manage in their entire career. Unfortunately, the performances of the children just don't measure up and seeing as they are the lynch pin of the entire story, this harms the film's effectiveness immeasurably. The constant Biblical references and hymn singing also wore on this confirmed atheist's nerves and some of the imagery is very heavy handed (OK OK, enough of the wildlife. I got the analogy from the deeply subtle title "night of the HUNTER"...) Maybe it was because I built this film up too much for myself, but as the film wore on and the suspense was replaced by saccharine I was left exasperated just as often as I was amazed. I'm certainly not sorry I've seen it and the imagery is truly spectacular but this is one of those "classics" I couldn't help feeling underwhelmed by.
  • JonathanHutchings
    February 11, 2011
    JonathanHutchings
    Charles Laughton's "The Night of the Hunter'' is one of the most instantly memorable films you'll ever see, but has never received the attention it deserves because of its lack of the proper trappings. Many memorable films are by great directors, but Laughton directed only this o... read morene film, which was a critical and commercial failure long overshadowed by his acting career. Many memorable movies use actors who come draped in respectability and prestige, but Robert Mitchum (who is excellent here, as usual) has always been a raffish outsider. And memorable movies are realistic, but "Night of the Hunter'' is an expressionistic oddity, telling its chilling story through visual fantasy. People don't know how to categorize it, so they leave it off their lists. That inability to define it is, to me, its greatest quality.

    Its compelling, perplexing, frightening and beautiful all at the same time. Many films from the mid-1950s, even the good ones, seem somewhat dated now, but by setting his story in an invented movie world outside conventional realism, Laughton gave it a timelessness. Yes, the movie takes place in a small town on the banks of a river. But the town looks as artificial as a Christmas card scene, the family's house with its strange angles inside and out looks too small to live in, and the river becomes a set so obviously artificial it could have been built for a completely stylized studio film.

    The shot of Shelley Winters at the bottom of the river is one of several remarkable images in the movie, which was photographed in black and white by Stanley Cortez, who shot Welles' "The Magnificent Ambersons," and once observed he was "always chosen to shoot weird things.'' (that shot, also, is among the greatest shots I have ever seen, hands down). There's also a frightening composition that shows a street lamp casting Mitchum's terrifying shadow on the walls of the children's bedroom. The basement sequence combines terror and humor, as when the Preacher tries to chase the children up the stairs, only to trip, fall, recover, lunge and catch his fingers in the door. And the masterful nighttime river sequence uses giant foregrounds of natural details, like frogs and spider webs, to underline a kind of biblical progression as the children drift to eventual safety. Also, I have to finish by commenting on the brilliant casting choice of Lillian Gish (she herself a cinematic figure of biblical proportions. You can analyze the role of her character all day long, and she is just another example of how compelling this film truly is.
  • mjgildea
    December 21, 2010
    mjgildea
    I don't know how to convey the incredible magnificence of Night of the Hunter without coming across like a complete and total lunatic. First, it is a shame of biblical proportions that this was the only movie that Charles Laughton ever made. The man accomplished more in one movie... read more than many directors ever pull off in their entire careers. The look of this movie is like a hellish fairy tale being told in a film noir setting. One of the most amazing-looking movies ever! Then you've got the performance of Robert Mitchum's career. (I would've like to have seen more of a fight out of him at the end but for the story's sake I'm kind of glad there wasn't...) I'm ashamed of myself for not liking this movie when I first saw it and am eternally thankful that Criterion re released it.
  • smith44
    November 29, 2010
    smith44
    One of the greatest films of all time! REV. HARRY POWELL (Robert Mitchum): "Would you like me to tell you the little story of right hand, left hand? The story of good and evil? H-A-T-E. It was with this left hand that old brother Cain struck the blow that laid his brother low. L-... read moreO-V-E. You see these fingers, dear hearts? These fingers has veins that run straight to the soul of man - the right hand, friends, the hand of love."
  • ajv2688
    November 10, 2010
    ajv2688
    A really good thriller with a couple of kids who have to escape from a madman. The style, direction, and acting is really good. A must see movie.

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Critic Reviews

October 7, 2008
TIME Magazine

It is a garish, unbelievable but fairly exciting nightmare. Full Review

Dave Kehr
August 28, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Ultimately the source of its style and power is mysterious -- it is a film without precedents, and without any real equals Full Review

Variety Staff
August 28, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

This start for Gregory as producer and Laughton as director is rich in promise but the completed product, bewitching at times, loses sustained drive via too many offbeat touches that have a misty effect. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

All this has been crisply compacted into clear screen drama by the late James Agee and it is put forth under the direction of Mr. Laughton in stark, rigid visual terms. Full Review

Jane Sumner
March 21, 2002
Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News

One of the most chilling suspense films ever made, it's also the finest role of Robert Mitchum. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
October 23, 2001
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

Though purely homegrown, Hunter contains no social critique -- the issues are elemental, the morality biblical, the trials Homeric. In terms of cinematic texture, it's a hound from hell. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
January 1, 2000
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Laughton creates terrific tension between Mitchum and his prey, turning the preacher into a bloodthirsty wolf and Willa's children into tender lambs. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

One of the most frightening of movies. Full Review

Wesley Lovell
August 15, 2011
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

An astounding thriller with a chilling performance by Robert Mitchum. Full Review

Sean Axmaker
December 3, 2010
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View

... one of the most beautiful pastoral nightmares the cinema has seen. Full Review

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    • Preacher Harry Powell: Would you like me to tell you the little story of right hand, left hand? The story of good and evil? H-A-T-E. It was with this left hand that old brother Cain struck the blow that laid his brother low. L-O-V-E. You see these fingers, dear hearts? These fingers has veins that run straight to the soul of man -- the right hand, friends, the hand of love.
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The Night of the Hunter Trivia

  • What words does Robert Mitchum have tattooed on the fingers of both hands in Night of the Hunter?  Answer »
  • Which famous actor directed 'The Night of the Hunter'?  Answer »
  • Which of these is NOT a John Capenter movie?  Answer »
  • In what movie or movies does a character bear the word "love" on one hand and the word "hate" on the other?  Answer »
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