5.0 out of 5 stars ORIGINALLY UNAPPRECIATED BUT NOW PRAISED CLASSIC

J.E.L. · January 16, 2013

There is a lot to say about this remarkable film. NIGHT OF THE HUNTER is a masterpiece that deserves to be in a category of its own - thriller, crime, suspense, drama comedy and there is even a bit of film noir in this classic.As with many masterpieces, NIGHT OF THE HUNTER was misunderstood when it was first released. United Artists did not know how to market this film. What was this film, exactly? It was ahead of its time in many ways and only years later was it truly admired to become an American film classic.As I said, there is a bit of everything in NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. It's a crime story but then it become a suspense thriller and eventually it is a fantasy view of the world from the eyes of two young children. NIGHT OF THE HUNTER was film acting legend Charles Laughton's only film. It's poor reception was one of the big disappointments of his career. He never directed a film again.The DVD cover of this Criterion Collection version has a film noir feel as we see Robert Mitchum holding a young girl as she looks up to him. I watched this film with no background to the story. Just the DVD cover and the fact that I was watching Robert Mitchum films and this one was on the list. Oddly, I have meant to watch this film for years simply because a long-time friend of mine is one of the children seen later in the film.What an amazing cast. Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and the superb Lillian Gish and sprinkled throughout are well-known character actors of the era. There is a feel and ambiance to the film that I noticed right away. There is reverence to silent films in NIGHT OF THE HUNTERS. It was filmed in black and white for a reason. The indoor and nighttime scenes can be downright creepy and scary. The mood is set. It seemed strange to see Shelley Winters as a young actress--attractive but in a normal, girl next door sense. Her husband (a young Peter Graves) kills two men in a robbery and is eventually tried and executed. But what became of the $10,000 that was stolen. Enter the "Preacher" Harry Powell played with delight by Robert Mitchum bent on finding the missing money. He successfull woos the widow Willa Harper. Only her 10-year-old son John, played by the remarkably talented Billy Chapin, sees the preacher for what he is. A decade later, Winters was to again play a widow wooed by a nefarious con man in LOLITA. No one seems to be suspicious of a preacher with the words LOVE and HATE tattooed on the fingers of each hand.The lighting sets the mood in so many scenes and that becomes more and more evident as the story progresses. At first, we have a somewhat straightforward story. Only when the children are on their own trying to evade the preacher do we have a shift in the story and the world is now seen through the eyes of two children. Truly remarkable and the shift is subtle. Eventually the kids are found by Rachel Cooper played by the lovely, charming, fantastic and one of a kind silent film star Lillian Gish. Gish lights up the screen and it's a shame that her film appearances were limited in the sound era.We know from the beginning that the "preacher" is a widow killer so I am not giving anything away. One of the most shocking and memorable scenes I have ever seen is one of his victims in the water and her hair is flowing through the water along with the lake plants (much like ocean kelp). Watch the extras to find out how this scene was shot so realistically.The absolute surprise in this film is the talented child actor Billy Chapin. Here was a 40-year-old trapped in the body of a child. From this movie alone, I would rank him as one of the best child actors I have ever seen but apparently, he only did one more film after this one. An incredible talent that must be seen. On the other hand, the actress playing his baby sister Pearl, Sally Jane Bruce, ranks as one of the most annoying child actors I have seen with a strange voice and an odd way of saying, "John." This was her one and only film appearance.NIGHT OF THE HUNTER is stylish, quirly, off-beat and totally addictive to any fan of classic films. I spent a week watching all the extras on the Criterion Collection version and this version is a MUST to any film buff. Here is the odd story of how the film came to the big screen directed by Charles Laughton. There is a lot of praise to be given to the Criterion Collection version and all the extras.Film buffs can't miss the 2 1/2 hour extra CHARLES LAUGHTON DIRECTS NIGHT OF THE HUNTER.There is probably nothing like it in film history. Laughton keep the camera running when giving directions and beyond that he SAVED all the hours and hours of outtakes. His widow actress Elsa Lanchester finally donated the countless reels to archivists who spent years and years making sense of it all. The final product takes us as close to a film set and the movie making process that most of us will ever see. Here are the scenes in order as Laughton directs his cast--their mistakes, their triumphs and his direction on how to play the scene over and over. It is remarkable. I have never seen anything like it and it can't be missed.Before writing this review, I wanted to have lunch with my friend to discuss her memories of the film. The story was that Laughton was not good with the child actors. The outtakes and my friend prove that was not the case. She said he was gentle and patient with the kids. Lillian Gish was wonderful and she had some great stories about Robert Mitchum and his antics--here was an actor who liked his drink and stayed out late and kept the cast and crew waiting for him to show up on set. I can't imagine what it must be like to be part of film history.One final note. Mitchum sings throughout the film and I was amazed that he can actually carry a tune and he carries it quite well. I had heard he had a hit in the 1950's with the theme to his film THUNDER ROAD. I always figured that was a fluke but I was fascinated to learn there are three Robert Mitchum CDs on Bolo that you can buy. I got the one where Mitchum sings calupso and he pulls it off. Amazing. Some people have more than their share of talent.

5.0 out of 5 stars "It's a hard world for little things."

O.C. · March 28, 2024

Wow, where to start. So much has already been said about this cinematic masterpiece in previous reviews both here and all over the web and written page. Part German expressionist film, part biblical parable, part commentary on the Red Scare, part film noir and even part horror film. The Night of the Hunter stings you, scares you and stays with you for a long time. One time director Charles Laughton and enigmatic DP Stanley Cortez create a child's nightmare for adults. It was so far ahead of its time in 1955 that both audiences and critics were at a total loss to comprehend it. Censors had a field day. Yet, over the many decades this unique film found its way into legend. Yes, the performances are in a strange over theatrical style. Yes, there's an angular, severe and extreme balance between light and shadow in the photography. Yes, there are demonic overtones. Yes, there's an almost dream like nature to much of the film. Much of the music combines religious hymns with dark foreboding tones. It's all done on purpose. To guild the viewer through this fevered vison of good and evil. Of human weaknesses and triumphant strengths. Verbal descriptions fail the film. Those that love it can only suggest giving it at least one viewing. You might be very surprised!This Kino Lorber 4K release is truly the best this has ever looked in the home. Beautiful fine grain. The deepest blacks. No DNR. No edge enhancement. The full range of grays and whites. Almost no noise or film damage. There will be some conversations about the aspect ratio. I slightly prefer the 1.85:1 frame rather than the Criterion 1.66:1 Blu-ray. Yes, you lose a few quick shots at the top and bottom, but I think the more immersive frame on a home display brings me more into Cortez's dreamlike visuals.Sound is fine. The haunting music and spoken dialog are clear. Supplements are interesting and enjoyable but cannot compete with the older Criterion Blu-ray. I can strongly recommend this 4K remaster to add to the collection if you do not already have a physical copy of the movie or if you just must have the best home picture reproduction available. If you already have the Criterion Blu-ray, then double dipping will be a strictly individual choice.

5.0 out of 5 stars A critical masterpiece of an artistic masterpiece

M. · August 7, 2025

Here is almost all you may learn about the only movie Laughton directed. Amazing restoration, the special features in the first DVD greatly enlighten the film, specially the interviews with Robert Mitchum and Stanley Cortez, the sketches by Davis Grubb and the deleted scene of Peter Graves and Shelley Winters in the prison. But what's most instructive is the 2h30 documentary on the second disc, where we go the closest to Laughton's directing and his empathy with the cast, mostly with children. The main originality is the documentary is fully chaptered, as is the audio commentary on the first disc. So you can go back whenever you want to each scene, to analyze it through rehearsal or in its final cut. The beautifully illustrated booklet with its two essays also brings precious informations, mainly about Grubb and Laughton's collaboration and about the screenwtiter James Agee. So here's the occasion to love this movie more and more as you dig more deeply in it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic!!

C. · June 7, 2025

One of my favourite films!!

Suspense is is believabl

M.W. · June 29, 2019

Great suspenseful film acting is great. Too bad Charles Laughton didn't direct more

Magnífica

C.d.A. · July 9, 2025

Me he enamorado de esta obra maestra.Por fin pude ver esta joya de película y estoy fascinado. Lo increíble es que en su época fracasó tanto en taquilla como en crítica, porque realmente estaba demasiado adelantada para su época. Lamentablemente su director decepcionado, no volvió a dirigir cine nunca más, lo cual es una lastima. Pero nos dejó este cuento mágico hecho película. Hace mucho no me pasaba que en cuanto acabé de ver una película la puse de nuevo para poder disfrutarla una vez más. La versión de Criterion es magnífica. Si pueden comprarla háganlo y disfruten de una de las mejores películas de todos los tiempos.

Whether you Love / Hate it, just buy the Criterion bluray now.

N.M.F. · September 3, 2015

I really don't know where to begin with this gorgeous remastered Criterion release. It's absolutely stunning to behold and hear. After you've been to www.bluray. com to read their comprehensive review of both the film itself and ALL the extras and supplements you can then scour the Internet for the best deals on region /zone free bluray players to play this on. Criterion have really outdone themselves with this indispensable bluray.

A very compelling story.

S. · July 21, 2016

A dark, black and white film that looks at a false preacher( with his own made-up religion) who exploits widows for their money and then kills them. He hates women and thinks it is his duty to rid the world of them, while he makes a profit on the side (by taking their money). The film looks at how people can be deceived by a respectable outer appearance and how blindly people follow leaders instead of having discernment. It looks at peer pressure, 'you need a husband, go on now'. Shelly Winter's character allows herself to be persuaded and shamed; she's too willing to give up her freedom to that psycho preacher. But the boy (her son) sees through the preacher's oily façade. It is a story of greed, the worship of money, and strength; we meet another character who, unlike Shelly Winter's character, is a very strong woman who will put her life at risk to protect the children.

Criterion Collection: Night of the Hunter Dvd

N. · October 2, 2015

Masterful Cinema.