|
| • Advanced Search • Help |
The Night of the Hunter | Year: 1955 Classification: Drama Directed: - Charles Laughton Actors/Actresses: - Robert Mitchum - Shelley Winters Close to being a masterpiece The Night of the Hunter is a film often cited as being "one of the greatest American movies" and a masterpiece. There's little doubt that it is an outstanding film on many levels, unfortunately its obvious flaws ensure that it fails to live up to its high promise. The sentimental opening sequence(in the vein of It's a Wonderful life) is irrelevant and doesn't set the right tone for the nightmarish proceedings that follow. The standard score isn't the most effective made for this type of movie and by the final 45 minutes Charles Laughton's ingenious style crucially overwhelmes the fading narrative. That's to say, the movie is one of two halves: the first being a suspenseful, compelling, nightmarish study of a psychopathic preacher striking terror in a small community and the second half being an exercise in what happens when the suspense sadly sinks along with with everything that was good before it.<BR> The direction is ambiguous and unique: short and effective scenes of unbearable tension and fleeting images complementing Robert Mitchum's terrifying performace in the lead role and managing to conceal the careless holes in the script. Some scenes feature no dialogue at all and move from one image to the next, a trick which Kubrick used effectively for 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, the disappointing anti-climax was inevitable as soon as the two children find shelter after sailing away from their nemesis. Whether this is carelessness or inexperience behind the camera (Laughton only directed this movie) remains to be seen. The second best movie of all time. I'll be predictable and say "Citizen Kane" is the greatest movie ever. But I've always felt "The Night of the Hunter" is a rather unpredictable No. 2. It answers the question, "Are movies art?" The music, the black-and-white images, the dream-like quality to this work elevate it from entertainment media to artistic experience. Not pretentiously so, I might add. For one thing, we have real big-time actors here, not the no-name wanna-be actors we often see in those low budget independent films. And the two main children, brother and sister, are perhaps the best child actors I've ever seen on screen. There is a sadness in their portrayal which sets the film apart. Robert Mitchum is at his "Cape Fear" creepy best, but one must praise the subtlety he brought to his finest performances. I've never heard enough praise given to James Gleason, maybe because he's confused with Ralph G., but he added to the stature of many-a film, this one more than any other. The car floating under water, dreamily-- an unforgettable image. And the almost unrealistic night sky of stars that are almost too bright. The feeling of helplessness as the young kids try to escape a danger too large to comprehend. The feeling of peace and freedom on the river. The geniune religious quality to the entire movie, especially the final scene. Charles Naughton crafted a totally unique experience in this movie, with an exciting plot and universal theme. Like all great works of art, we can completely enjoy it while we're in it, but after we walk away know that there is so much more to it. I can't be more specific without giving away the plot, but just know this isn't the usual "thumbs up!" (By the way, I'd rank "The Apartment" at No. 3 and after that, I don't know). Surreal Mitchum I've always been a fan of Robert Mitchum's stoic style. But he's anything but stoic in this very unique film. The atmosphere created by Laughton's direction - and apparently his rewriting of the script - is as surreal as it gets. Once you realize you're watching an adult fairy tale about good and evil, you'll be mesmerized. This film is one artist's only offering, and worth the time to watch. Buy The Night Of The Hunter at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Night Of The Hunter Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Night Of The Hunter This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
|
