Criterion A Day #4 - The Night of the Hunter

The Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films...

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The Night of the Hunter
Spine # 541
Written by:  James Agee
Directed by: Charles Laughton
Starring:  Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Billy Chapin and Lillian Gish

From the box:

The Night of the Hunter - incredibly, the only film the great actor Charles Laughton ever directed - is truly a stand-alone masterwork.  A horror movie with qualities of a Grimm fairy tale, it stars a sublimely sinister Robert Mitchum as a traveling preacher named Harry Powell (he of the tattooed knuckles), whose nefarious motives for marrying a fragile widow, played by Shelley Winters, are uncovered by her terrified young children.  Graced by images of eerie beauty and a sneaky sense of humor, this ethereal expressionistic American classic - also featuring the contributions of actress Lillian Gish and writer James Agee - is cinema's most eccentric rendering of the battle between good and evil.


It's an understatement to call this movie brilliant because it really is a work of art.  1955's The Night of the Hunter is a perfect storm of drama, horror, mystery and tension that features an absolutely staggering performance from Robert Mitchum.  This is the kind of performance that makes someone sacred to walk down the street for fear of hearing that song.  That delightfully creepy tune he whistles and sings. 

I can honestly say I didn't think they made movies like this back in the fifties.  This genuinely creepy?  No way.    I'm happy to be wrong for sure. 

The Night of the Hunter might just be one of the best Criterion releases to date.  With a glorious picture and pitch perfect sound, not to mention a ton of excellent features - including a second disc devoted the wonderful 2 and a half hour documentary Charles Laughton Directs.

The features also include commentary with Terry Sanders, Fim Critic F.X. Feeney, archivist Robert Gitt and author Preston Neal Jones; a new documentary featuring interviews with producer Paul Gregory, Sanders, Feeney, Jones and author Jeffrey Couchman; a new video interview with Laughton biographer Simon Callow; a clip from The Ed Sullivan Show in which cast members perform a scene deleted from the film; a fifteen minute archival documentary about the film, featuring Robert Mitchum; an archival interview with cinematographer Stanley Cortez; a gallery of sketches by Davis Grubb, author of the source novel; and the original theatrical trailer. 

An absolute masterpiece of classic American cinema, The Night of the Hunter is an absolute must have.  It's a perfect movie.  Beautifully written, superbly acted, gorgeously shot and presented better than ever before by the folks at Criterion.

While it is one of the pricier releases on Criterion's catalog it is worth every penny. 

The Night of the Hunter

Criterion Collection #541

Pop Culture Beast Rating

10/10

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