Films/DVD Asylum

"The Night of the Hunter'

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rico

(A)

The DVD incorrectly informs us that the film has been "reformatted for this screen" (not so for me anyway on my 16 x 9 monitor) but this is not accurate as the 1955 film's original aspect ratio WAS 4 x 3. Charles Laughton's only screen director outing (he acted in 56 films and directed a number of stage presentations) is a scary masterpiece featuring waht many (including the actor himself) consider to be Robert Mitchums's best performance (me? I'd go for him in "Cape fear" but that's splitting hairs). Laughton considered the film a sort of Mother Goose horror story and insisted on using lillian Gish from the silent days because of her unique combination of innocence and strength. Mitchum had no use for Shelly Winters but I cannot detect this in either's acting. It is rumored that, though James Agee gets full screenplay credit, Laughton did most of the (re0 writing. Still an off beat film but a true masterpiece.

Follow Ups:

Agreed.... - AudioHeada 05:30:59 02/08/07 (0)
I think 'Cape Fear' was his better performance. As Greg Peck said,"It
was Bobby's film.". ~AH
Re: "The Night of the Hunter' - Awe-d-o-file 10:24:17 02/07/07 (0)
Yep, a masterpiece for sure. Mitchum is the man.......and we share the same birthday! I also agree that Cape Fear is a bit better,"Counsla". (read "counselor" but with his accent from the film) Mitchum=cool! Look up cool in the dictionary, there's Bobs pic! Did you see the TCM replay of his Dick Cavitt interview from the early 70's? Good stuff.
ET
Re: "The Night of the Hunter' - laznos 17:21:43 02/05/07 (0)
This film, from the mid '50s, manages to be retro and ahead of its time simultaneously. It is Capraesque with the Lillian Gish subplot, and anticipates 'Psycho' with Mitchum's character. This might be the scariest performance of all time, Mitchum plays as if possessed with a force of unrelenting evil. He blows away Tony Perkins, who also gave a great performance in Hitchcock's masterpiece.
Re: "The Night of the Hunter' - Revolver66 09:39:09 02/05/07 (0)
Always find myself humming Leaning on the Everlasting Arms after each screening...
Re: "The Night of the Hunter' - Rod H. 07:10:59 02/05/07 (0)
One of my most enjoyable film watching experiences was when I played this film for my teenage kids about 10 years ago. They were totally enthralled and very moved by it....a B&W film made over 30 years before they were born.
Rod

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