Length of Film- 93 minutes
Director- Charles Laughton
Cast- Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves, Don Beddoe, Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce, & Gloria Castillo
This movie was very intense! I was sitting at the edge of my seat, scared for the two kids.
The movie is about a con artist "pastor" Harry Powell ( Robert Mitchum) who was cell mates with a man who robbed a bank and stole $10,000. Since he never confessed where he hid the money, they hung him. Leaving his wife and two kids alone. Once the "pastor" was released, he decided to woo the widow. The son, Ben (Peter Graves) did not have a good feeling about this man, especially when he saw the tattoos on his hands.
You've probably seen this picture of the man with the love/hate tattooed on his hand. I know I have and always wondered from movie it was from, the answer is Night of the Hunter. Here is the meaning behind the tattoos and how it relates to the plot of this movie.
"Ah, little lad, you're staring at my fingers. Would you like me to tell you the little story of right-hand/left-hand? The story of good and evil? H-A-T-E! It was with this left hand that old brother Cain struck the blow that laid his brother low. L-O-V-E! You see these fingers, dear hearts? These fingers has veins that run straight to the soul of man. The right hand, friends, the hand of love. Now watch, and I'll show you the story of life. Those fingers, dear hearts, is always a-warring and a-tugging, one agin t'other. Now watch 'em! Old brother left hand, left hand he's a fighting, and it looks like love's a goner. But wait a minute! Hot dog, love's a winning! Yessirree! It's love that's won, and old left hand hate is down for the count!"
The widow Willa (Shelley Winters) fell for Pastors B.S. and they were married. On their wedding night, she was fully prepared and ready to consumate the marriage, but he stopped her stating, " You thought, Willa, that the moment you walked in that door, I'd start to paw at you in that abominable way that men are supposed to do on their wedding night. Ain't that right, now?
Willa Harper: No, no, no.
Rev. Harry Powell: I think it's time we made one thing perfectly clear, Willa. Marriage to me represents the blending of two spirits in the sight of Heaven. Get up, Willa.
Willa Harper: Harry, what...?
Rev. Harry Powell: Get up. Now go look at yourself yonder in that mirror. Do as I say. Look at yourself. What do you see, girl? You see the body of a woman, the temple of creation and motherhood. You see the flesh of Eve that man since Adam has profaned. That body was meant for begettin' children. It was not meant for the lust of men! Do you want more children, Willa?
Willa Harper: I... no.
Rev. Harry Powell: It's the business of this marriage to mind the two you have now. Not to beget more. Alright, you can get in bed now. Stop shivering.
Willa Harper: [praying] Help me to be clean, so I can be what Harry wants me to be.
After the marriage, Harry got down to business; finding that $10,000. The daughter, Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce) was too little to understand, opened up to her new daddy, and was very affectionate toward him. Ben wanted NOTHING to do with him, because he knew who his father was and he knew that was after the money, and he swore to his father before he was taken away, that he would never tell.
The movie continues with a murder, cornered in the basement, children running away, threatening with a knife and shot gun.
It was a wonderfully creepy movie, especially when the main song of the movie is the hymnal, "Leaning on the everlasting arms". It's a beautiful song that he makes cold, creepy, and threatening.
