The Night of the Hunter

1955

1h 33m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

1.7K

YOUR RATING

Rate

POPULARITY

Play trailer

6 Videos

99+ Images

Crime

Drama

Thriller

In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.

Directors

Charles Laughton

Writers

Davis Grubb(novel by)

Charles Laughton(screenplay by)

James Agee(screenplay by)

Stars

Robert Mitchum

Shelley Winters

Lillian Gish

See production, box office & company info

Videos6

Trailer
Watch The Night of the Hunter (1955) Original Trailer [HD]
Featurette
Watch Robert Mitchum On THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
Featurette
Watch William Friedkin, Robert Englund and Spike Lee on THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
Featurette
Watch Guillermo del Toro Presents THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
Featurette
Watch Three Reasons: The Night of the Hunter
Teaser
Watch Trailer

Top cast

Robert Mitchum

Preacher Harry Powell

Willa Harper

Rachel Cooper

John Harper

Pearl Harper

Uncle Birdie Steptoe

Icey Spoon

Walt Spoon

Ben Harper

District Attorney

Ruby

Burlesque Dancer

Bart

Mary

Judge

Ruby's Boyfriend

Sheriff

Miz Cunningham

Directors

Charles Laughton

Writers

Davis Grubb(novel by)

Charles Laughton(screenplay by)

James Agee(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

The only film directed by the great English actor Charles Laughton, "The Night of the Hunter" is a brilliant allegory about the battle between good and evil. The film failed upon its release but is now considered a classic. Robert Mitchum has never been better as the malevolent "preacher" who marries the hapless Shelley Winters. Mitchum had been in prison with Winters husband and knows there is money to be had from a robbery the deceased husband committed, but where is it? Though Shelley falls under Mitchum"s twisted religious zeal, her children a little boy and girl instinctively know this man is bad, bad, bad. Spoiler alert: Shelley Comes to a watery end and the children must flee from Mitchum who has discovered the money is hidden in little Pearl's doll. After an arduous journey mainly by boat (the Ohio river?) John and Pearl come to rest in the saintly arms of the magnificent Lillian Gish. But Mitchum is relentless in his pursuit and that is when the eternal battle between good and evil is fought one more time. I will not reveal which side prevails but let's just say for an old broad Lillian is a formidable opponent. A film I saw as a young boy it left an impression on me that was powerful. A deeply disturbing yet uplifting movie "Night of the Hunter" is not to be missed. This is Gummshoe signing off with two fists up for "Night of the Hunter."

gummshoe22 Mar, 2016