• Intense
• Nostalgic

‘The Night of the Hunter’

The Night of the Hunter, Charles Laughton’s black and white thriller, offered Robert Mitchum the chance to play one of cinema’s most memorable villians, and Mitchum took full advantage of the opportunity. Starring as Reverend Harry Powell, a charming psychopath who operates under the guise of a religious fanatic, Mitchum creates a sense of menace that permeates every minute of the fast-moving plot. The story is simple enough. During his most recent prison stint, Powell learns that his recently executed cellmate had stashed stolen cash in a hiding place known only to his children, John and Pearl. Upon his release, Powell beelines it for this family, wooing and eventually killing his cellmate’s widow (Shelley Winters) and driving John and Pearl to see refuge with their neighbor, Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish), who is a lot tougher than she looks. For an unforgettable study of the nature of evil, The Night of the Hunter is essential viewing for movie lovers.