- Actors: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden
- Directors: Charles Laughton
- Format: PAL, Black & White
- Language English
- Classification: 12
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- VHS Release Date: 18 May 1998
- Run Time: 93 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CWC5
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,323 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In the entire history of American movies, The Night of the Hunter stands out as the rarest and most exotic of specimens. It is, to say the least, a masterpiece--and not just because it was the only movie directed by flamboyant actor Charles Laughton or the only produced solo screenplay by the legendary critic James Agee (who also co-wrote The African Queen). The truth is, nobody has ever made anything approaching its phantasmagoric, overheated style in which German expressionism, religious hysteria, fairy-tale fantasy (of the Grimm-est variety), and stalker movie are brought together in a furious boil. Like a nightmarish premonition of stalker movies to come, Night of the Hunter tells the suspenseful tale of a demented preacher (Robert Mitchum, in a performance that prefigures his memorable villain in Cape Fear), who torments a boy and his little sister--even marries their mixed-up mother (Shelley Winters)--because he's certain the kids know where their late bank-robber father hid a stash of stolen money. So dramatic, primal, and unforgettable are its images--the preacher's shadow looming over the children in their bedroom, the magical boat ride down a river whose banks teem with fantastic wildlife, those tattoos of LOVE and HATE on the unholy man's knuckles, the golden locks of a drowned woman waving in the current along with the indigenous plant life in her watery grave--that they're still haunting audiences (and filmmakers) today. --Jim Emerson, Amazon.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A fine example of the "one man's meat is another man's poison" cliche, this film is a fantastic masterpiece to those, like me, who succumb to its wonderful magic, and an incomprehensibly overrated disappointment to those who don't.
It is almost impossible to categorise: is it gothic horror, thriller or dark (and occasionally sentimental) fairytale? Perhaps a combination of all three, and it is indeed in moments of transition that some of the haunting nature of this movie is revealed. As Mitchum's terrifying pursuit of the childrens segues into their river escape, the tone switches from nailbiting terror to gorgeous "magic reality" in the wake of his roar of disappointment, ready for the good fairy (Lilian Gish) to turn up downriver. Just to name my own favourite moment; there are plenty of others (the wife at the bottom of the river being the most oft-quoted). And what stunning, overwrought yet just right, performances there are from Mitchum (possibly his best ever), Winters and others.
Anyone coming to this film expecting a simple, unified, realistic narrative will indeed be disappointed, but those ready to give themselves to a world of symbol and shadow, light and darkness (what fantastic cinematography!), and pure, fairytale good and evil need seek no further. This is not an "old" film: it is timeless, and eternally beautiful. Don't be afraid; jump in and submerge yourself. But don't drown...
It is almost impossible to categorise: is it gothic horror, thriller or dark (and occasionally sentimental) fairytale? Perhaps a combination of all three, and it is indeed in moments of transition that some of the haunting nature of this movie is revealed. As Mitchum's terrifying pursuit of the childrens segues into their river escape, the tone switches from nailbiting terror to gorgeous "magic reality" in the wake of his roar of disappointment, ready for the good fairy (Lilian Gish) to turn up downriver. Just to name my own favourite moment; there are plenty of others (the wife at the bottom of the river being the most oft-quoted). And what stunning, overwrought yet just right, performances there are from Mitchum (possibly his best ever), Winters and others.
Anyone coming to this film expecting a simple, unified, realistic narrative will indeed be disappointed, but those ready to give themselves to a world of symbol and shadow, light and darkness (what fantastic cinematography!), and pure, fairytale good and evil need seek no further. This is not an "old" film: it is timeless, and eternally beautiful. Don't be afraid; jump in and submerge yourself. But don't drown...
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Remember those dreams where you were being chased by a dark baddie monster and as you tried to escape everything seemed to go in slow motion - like running through treacle? Remember how scared you were.
Remember those black and white surrealist films by Jean Cocteau or Luis Bunuel that depict the human psyche so well - that plays with light and dark and are masterpieces of psycho-chiaroscuro.
Remember how few movies could create a bestselling poster out of any single movie frame, for instance Yellow Submarine.
Watch this film NOW and you will remember its genius for a life time. You will never tire of watching it again and again. It touches something deep inside us all.
Remember those black and white surrealist films by Jean Cocteau or Luis Bunuel that depict the human psyche so well - that plays with light and dark and are masterpieces of psycho-chiaroscuro.
Remember how few movies could create a bestselling poster out of any single movie frame, for instance Yellow Submarine.
Watch this film NOW and you will remember its genius for a life time. You will never tire of watching it again and again. It touches something deep inside us all.
42 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I just got a DVD player and this is the 1st film I had to buy. You have not seen it until you see it clear and bright as the lighting and photography of this true masterpiece are also in the starring roles here. There is no other movie like it (which explains why it bombed so unjustly at release time) and I for one believe it to be at least one of the top 10 of all times. The people who do not like this simply do not get this as it escapes all labelling and takes you from opposites genres to emotions.This is best viewed with a child eye view as the story is told through(largely) a child point of view. it is one of the greatest film of all times and if you give it a bit of your time and undivided attention it will enthrall you, make you smile, scare the bejesus out of you and leave you with so many haunting images that you will carry with you for ever,(Shelley Winters in the lake, Mitchum jumping in front of Gish and her gun, LOVE and HATE knuckles...You will be humming LEANING,LEANING also for a long time) If you never see another film, just see this one as even though it is a classic it is also approachable by anyone who has ever been thrilled by cinema, connoisseur or just movie goer...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Night of the Hunter
The Second Virgin Film Guide (1993) gives its highest five star rating to this film. The Guide is hardly a safe reference book making numerous blunders throughout its 1077 pages... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Wilberfalse
A chilling noir classic
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)
Dir. Charles Laughton / 93 minutes / Cert 12
Fifty-seven years on and this classic early noir thriller stands the test of time. Read more
Dir. Charles Laughton / 93 minutes / Cert 12
Fifty-seven years on and this classic early noir thriller stands the test of time. Read more
Published 14 days ago by tigerthedog
Laughton's dramma giocoso is one of a kind
The Night Of The Hunter (1955) is supposed to have bombed, died the death back in '55, hence its being Laughton's only directorial credit. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Philoctetes
Stunning
This is one of my all time favourite movies. Unfortunately it was a flop when it was originally released, and this may be why it's not so well known today. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Newman
fantastic
One of my favourite films. Robert Mitchem is outstanding. A really classic triller with Robert as a very sinister character. Not to be missed.
Published 8 months ago by anna
Fright Night it's not, but frightful it is . . . . .
As a lover of old films, I read the glowing references for this film and thought I was in for a treat. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Hugh "Tab Lloyd" Otterburn
The First Bogeyman
Charles Laughton's one and only foray into directing has left us with a unique and almost unclassifiable work. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Seatinthestalls
Buy Night of the Hunter DVD
We know the film well, having recorded it many years ago on VHS.
We needed a DVD copy, so ordered it from you. Read more
We needed a DVD copy, so ordered it from you. Read more
Published 10 months ago by phil2
The Night of The Hunter.
Iconic film of course. Mitchum was one of my favourite actors. Suspenseful, I always feel that black and white, well lit, can be very atmospheric. Read more
Published 10 months ago by D. J. Huxtable
AHMAYZING
I saw this film by accident on television and have since seen it many times. It is one of the best films I have ever seen. Read more
Published 10 months ago by MadHatter
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