leavittstaff
The Coen Brothers love the same movies I do, and this is no exception. Check out their new Suburbicon: a little boy's horrific discovery of how dangerous grown-ups can be -- even the ones who are supposed to love and protect their little ones.
Bereft of one parent -- the father in Night of the Hunter, the mother in Suburbicon -- the child experiences one betrayal after another from the remaining parent. There's a matching scene from both films in which a light is turned on unexpectedly, revealing the victim to his enemy. Watch for it. Also, neighbors smug in their vicious ignorance: a dark fairy tale for our political times.
richard-riddle
I understand why this was Charles Laughton's only turn at directing; he thought he was still working in the decades that made him famous as an actor. For a movie made in 1955 the style is straight from the mid to late 1930s. Extreme facial close-ups, exaggerated expressions, unrealistic physical actions - all in an attempt to convey the director's interpretations of the script (which itself is highly suspect). The casting was a mix of truly talented people and hambone performers.
Supposedly, Mitchum wanted it filmed in West Virginia for the correct setting, but Laughton used Hollywood studios and backlots to control the visual style he was imagining. I wish Mitchum had won the argument.
It is reported that the principal actors all loved Laughton's directorial style and that he made their working experience very harmonious. That may due to allowing them to do what they wished with their performance rather than the director telling them what the he wanted. After all, Laughton was an actor rather than a director.
In all, this movie would have been a better product with an experienced director working from a better script that did not try to infuse social and religious opinions into a simple thriller motion picture.
Ghenghy
No wonder Loughton was ever allowed to direct another film, this is probably the worst piece of crap I have ever seen, but for a good laugh it was worth the cost of admission. Listen, we all know Mitchum was a one dimensional hack, his best role came in What a Way to Go, but this thing? Holy Mary mother of god. And to add insult to injury, the dumbed down idiots in this country hail it as one of the great masterpieces of cinema. Seriously, what planet am I on? BTW, my dad was in the theater business, he refused to run this tripe because of the general reception in Nashville... it was totally panned, and ended its run after 3 days. LOL And yes, its that bad!
Benedito Dias Rodrigues
Disturbing or daring movie?? what's genre?? very hard to find the answers after 93 minutes watching carefully this near masterpiece movie l surrender...fantastic atmosphere of fear and dark...Laughton on first e final directing with help of the novel's writer created a visual movie as originality and unusual methods and process...such things given to movie the dimension of the movie have today...it was dropped in theater when released but the time is the master of the truth... Mitchum is fantastic as preacher....the both kids are great too...and Lillian Gish after a long hiatus on the scream was fabulous as old farmer woman who helps homeless kids....James Gleason as Uncle birdie is amazing....so this movie is really a little gem of cinema for those known how appreciate a Cultmovie like this!!!
AD
