SPOTLIGHT #3
"The Night of the Hunter"
Novel by Davis Grubb
(unfortunately out of print check second hand stores.)
Directed by Charles Laughton (1955)
Main Cast: Robert Mitchum, Shelley
Winters, Lillian Gish and James Gleason.
BANNED IN FINLAND sorry :(
Not to clued in on Laughton's other
directorial roles, but this film is outstanding. It has been described by
IMDb as a Film Noir/Drama/Thriller.. I would call this all of the above
and add horror/fantasy.
Mitchum is cast as the bad guy Reverend
Harry Powell, who stalks the family of the woman he marries. The family
that he stashed $10,000 with. He goes to extremes to all extremes to get
the money... EVEN MURDER.
Money the big motive for anything
Horrific.
The Rev. is in a sense tattooed the
way Mitchum was in "Cape Fear".. This brings about one of the
best quotes in the film.
left-HATE------LOVE-right
The Rev..to little John Harper (Billy Chapin) "Ah,
little lad, you're staring at my fingers. 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. Now watch, and I'll show you the story of life. Those
fingers, dear hearts, is always a-warring and a-tugging, one agin t'other.
Now watch 'em! Old brother left hand, left hand he's a fighting, and it
looks like love's a goner. But wait a minute! Hot dog, love's a winning!
Yessirree! It's love that's won, and old left hand hate is down for the
count!"
BEST SCENE: The Fishermen, looks off the boat to see what
his hook is snagged on.. This is one of the most eerie sequences in movie
history with out a doubt.
Another scene of note is the children's escape by row-boat. Mitchum pursuing
them is very like the way Steve Miner direction of Jason pursuing his victims
in Friday the 13th part 2. This film is well worth a look.. If you have
a 2 for 1 discount at your local video shop, take the risk..
The Children are the real stars of this movie. Rachel (Lillian Gish), explains
to the children.. "It's a hard world for little things.".
Pearl and John are the children Pearl is portrayed by Sally Jane Bruce.
The Music is HEY JOE it reminds me of this film when I hear
it, a wife basher theme if ever there was one. unfortunately I could not
find scores for Hing, Hang, Hung or Leaning on the Everlasting
Arms.
HEY JOE.
, 1998-1999.
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