Classic 50s Movie: “The Night of the Hunter”
May is Classic 50s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from W. H. Morris.
Movie Title: The Night of the Hunter
Year: 1955
Writer: James Agee adapted a novel by Davis Grubbs
Starring: Robert Mitchum Shelly Winters Lillian Gish
Director: Charles Laughton
Plot Summary: Imprisoned with thief Ben Harper (Peter Graves), phony preacher Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) learns that Ben has hidden a $10,000 somewhere near his home. Upon his release, the murderously misogynistic Powell insinuates himself into Ben’s home, eventually marrying and murdering his widow Willa (Shelley Winters). Eventually all that stands between Powell and the money are Ben’s son, John (Billy Chapin) and daughter (Sally Jane Bruce), who after an exhausting river journey take refuge on a farm maintained for abandoned children and presided over by the indomitable, scripture-quoting Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish).
Why I think this is a Classic 50’s movie: When Night Of The Hunter was first released it was not a successful film. Commercially, it was a virtual textbook primer of what not to do during the wide screen Technicolor drenched Fifties when children’s tales were Disney stories.
Innocent children menaced by evil are not new to the canon of storytelling. But children menaced by a clearly psychotic predator whose repressed sexuality drives him to stab his female victims with a switchblade knife are not the stuff of a box office bonanza.
The opening shot sets the story. In the cosmos above grandmotherly Rachel Cooper is a stern Mother Goose telling her gathered flock of innocent children a cautionary tale, Beware Of Wolves In Sheep’s Clothing, which will become a nightmare.
The next shot reveals Robert Mitchum’s Rev. Harry Palmer putting along jauntily in a stolen car, conversing with God, his God, about his next victim. He reminds his creator that He has always been good about helping him find a lonely widow with ‘money in the sugar bowl.’
Jailed for stealing the car Palmer learns from his condemned cell mate, Ben Harper, that there is $10,000 hidden with his family. Upon his release Palmer sets off to find Harper’s widow, Willa, and get the money.
Upon his arrival in the small town where Harper’s family lives Harper’s son John, portrayed with steely resolve by Billy Chapin, immediately senses Harry’s evil nature. Palmer charms the towns people but when Palmer marries then murders Willa, played with heart-breaking vulnerability by Shelly Winters, John flees with his younger sister, Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce), and her doll containing the $10,000.
Palmer doggedly pursues John and Pearl on their journey down river. When Rachel rescues the children he arrives at her farm claiming he is their rightful parent. Rachel, too, sees Palmer’s evil and in one of the film’s many classic scenes stands him off with a shotgun.
My Favorite Moment In The Film: After Palmer laments to the town’s people that Willa has run off we see Willa’s true fate. This shot with Willa dead and tied in a submerged car, her hair eerily floating in the water is the all-time seat-squirming creepiest, scariest scene I have ever seen in a movie theatre.
Favorite Dialogue In The Film: Oft quoted due to the standard it has become Harry Palmers demonstration of the battle between Good and Evil is still a personal favorite.
After theatrically describing his despair that Willa has run off the ice cream parlor owners attempt to offer some consolation speculating on the possibility that Willa may return. Palmer’s reply is “She’ll not be back. I reckon’ I’m safe in promisin’ you that.”
Key Things You Should Look For When Watching The Film: Laughton’s use of disparate and seemingly incompatible filming elements to bring a complexity to what is essentially a simple story of the battle between Good and Evil.
Working with cinematographer Stanley Cortez Laughton employed the shadowy elements of German Expressionism with the by then archaic techniques of film pioneer D.W. Griffith to create the awkward and disturbing world of Night of the Hunter. Look for the ‘ iris down’ revealing John and Susan hiding when Palmer approaches Rachel Cooper’s farmhouse.
The director employs callback with significant impact. Late in the film Palmer has been captured and convicted of Willa’s murder. A torch bearing lynch mob marches on the jail demanding his death now. The mob is led by the same townspeople who much earlier were ‘ Amening’ one of Harry’s sermons.
Laughton’s deft use of the showing and not telling principle. Birdie Steptoe, a steady drinkerand town outcast, living aboard a houseboat peers into the water where he clearly sees Willa’s dead body. He then describes his discovery to a small, framed photo of his dead wife. Laughton’s point, only outsiders can see the truth, is devastatingly made.
Late in the film Palmer has befriended Ruby, a young woman who is another member of Rachel’s rescued family. When Palmer approaches her outside the town drugstore he puts his hand on her shoulder and we clearly hear the click of his switchblade.
For risking beyond cultural standards, combining disparate filmmaking elements, composing several shots which have since become standards and for casting Robert Mitchum as a funny and likeable homicidal psychopath Charles Laughton’s Night Of The Hunter has earned its entry into the Classic 50’s Movies Hall of Fame.
Thanks, W.H.! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!
We already have a set of classic 60s Movies, 70s movies, 80s Movies and 90s Movies. This month, we’re working on 50s movies. And thanks to the GITS community, we’ve got 31 movies in the works! Those who I put in bold have already sent me their posts. If you haven’t sent yours to me, please do so as soon as you can!!!
12 Angry Men — Ipsita Barik
A Place in the Sun — Zach Jansen
A Star is Born — Melinda Mahaffey
A Touch of Evil — David Joyner
All About Eve — Ricardo Bravo
American in Paris — stefani1601
Bridge on the River Kwai — Tom Peterson
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof — uncgym44
Commando Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe — J Nilsson-Acosta
File on Thelma Jordon, The — David Joyner
Harvey — Felicity Flesher
High Noon — Jeff Messerman
Invasion of the Body Snatchers — Rick Dyke
Kiss Me Deadly — John Henderson
Marty — jetwillie69
Night of the Demon — David Hutchison
Night of the Hunter — Mark Twain
On the Waterfront — Bilbo Poynter
Pickpocket — Zach Jansen
Pick Up on South Street — Vincent Martini
Quiet Man, The — Traci Nell Peterson
Rear Window — Roy Gordon
Rebel Without a Cause — Jack McDonald
Searchers, The — mkm28
Seven Samurai, The — Paul Graunke
Singin’ in the Rain — Maegan Kelly
Some Like It Hot — Will King
Stalag 17 — James Schramm
Sunset Blvd. — Lisa Byrd
Tokyo Story — Jeff Messerman
Vertigo — Jason Pates
Thanks to everyone!
For the original post explaining the series, go here.
For all of the 50s movies featured in the series, go here.
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