NIGHT OF THE HUNTER

US, 1955, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves.
Directed by Charles Laughton.

The Night of the Hunter was the only film directed by actor Charles Laughton. It achieved some fame in its time and its reputation has grown.

It is the story of an eccentric and insane criminal preacher, portrayed effectively by Robert Mitchum. In pursuit of two children, he is ruthless with those he comes across and the film explores the relationship between religion and madness. It has a fundamentalist American setting.

The film boasts interesting supporting performances from Lillan Gish and Shelley Winters. Interesting, offbeat and with a strong amount of content for discussion of important issues.

1. The significance of the title? The indication of themes? The indication from the scripture quotations of Miss Cooper?

2. The quality of the black and white photography, devices like the opening? with the Scripture and the children, the use of aerial photography, the visualising of children's fantasies? Comment on the quality of the technical side of the film.

3. A film of the 1950s? In terms of frank style, reticent treatment?

4. The initial impact of the opening? The focus on children, the Scripture, Miss Cooper and her not appearing until later?

5. The impact of the aerial entry into the state, the murder, the atmosphere of the times?

6. The film's focus on Harry? Our seeing him in the car, approaching the town, talking to God, love and hate on his hands, his presence in the strip joint, his arrest? The court case? The ambivalence of his character? The indications of madness? Our response to him fixed by these early sequences?

7. The nature of Harry's madness? The encounter in prison with Harper, menacing him? Harry's capacity for a performance? his cajoling the people? His capacity to threaten? The pleasant side of his character in singing and charm? His effect on women? His religious demonstration on love and hate? His marrying Willa? The wedding night and his loathing of sexuality? His using Willa in the revival sessions? His murder, pursuing of the children, deceiving people? Illustrating the wolf in sheep's clothing? Was his a well developed character?

8. Audience sympathy against him? Was it altered at the end? His dying in the same way as Harper? The irony with the money and his ambitions?

9. The contrast with Harper? Harry and his influence on the family? The two deaths?

10. The portrayal of Willa? The innocent wife, suffering in the Depression, loving her children? Her work and her being goaded into marriage? The sequences at the picnic? Her love for Harry? The deception? The reaction on the wedding night? Her docility in believing him? The effect of the revival atmosphere and her confession? Her discovery of the deception? The sadness of her death and her being visualised underwater?

11. The film's focus on the children? building up the characterisations? The witnessing of their father's death? The money in the doll? Their love for their mother? Suspicion of Harry, Louise hating him, the girls loving him? The strength of character in trying to cope with their mother's death? Running away? Like other Depression children? The fantasies of fear as they went down the river? Their courage? Miss Cooper and their warmth? The effect of her stories on them? Of her kindness? The melodrama of the ending? The children used as focus for the major characters and themes?

12. The importance of Mise Cooper, her kindness, her charity and the Depression, her religious background, her standing firm to protect the children, even the use of violence?

13. The ineffectiveness of the Uncle and his drinking?

14. The Spoons as ordinary characters, interfering in other people's lives, their gullibility in believing Harry, their frenzy in wanting to lynch him? As symbols of ordinary people?

15. The character of Ruby and her place with the other children, sexuality and Harry, at the end?

16. The success of the film as a thriller and murder story?

17. The impact of the film as a chase story? The details of the chase? The visuals, the animals and the child's eye view of these animals? Harry singing and appearing on the horizon etc?

18. The importance of the Depression as background to this story and characters?

19. An exploration of human relationships, family, love and hate?

20.The film as a portrayal of greed and the lengths that it leads to?

21.The theme of courage and fear?

22. Religious background of the film? The linking of fear, sexuality, greed, power, religion?