The Night of the Hunter
1955  NR  DRAMA  1h 32min
CAST— Robert Mitchum, Shelly Winters, Lillian Gish, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves, James Gleason, Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce
MUSIC— Walter Schumann  DIRECTOR— Charles Laughton  BASED ON— The Night of the Hunter (novel), by Davis Grubb

     Excellent suspense yarn in which the family of an executed bank robber falls victim to the most trusted man in town: the new minister, a genteel, scripture quoting charmer on the outside, a cunning and merciless killer below the surface. When he learns of the thief hiding $10,000 with his family he decides to take action and collect the spoils, so he slithers his way into the hearts of everyone in town, including the recent widow, never stopping until he marries her. Once he has her under his spell he goes to work on the kids, manipulating them, trying to pry the secret from them. They soon make a run for it; but perhaps there can be no escape… Robert Mitchum gives a dynamic performance in this stark and atmospheric thriller that you will either LOVE or HATE. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.
OUR RATING— ***
REMADE AS— Night of the Hunter (1991)