Freeze Frame: NIGHT OF THE HUNTER

You will find few classic films as well-shot as THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. You will also find few black & white films as well-shot as THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. Why in the world I thought it would be a good idea to sum up this film in one shot is escaping me.

This film actually has a lot in common with the third film I chose in this series, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Namely, it drops innocent children into a situation that forces them to grow up…though in a far more rushed manner than Mockingbird. The children in NIGHT OF THE HUNTER are pushed and pulled in so many directions, it’s a wonder they are able to withstand it all. They are pulled into a deceitful situation by their father, abandoned in the name of “love” by their mother, and tormented by an obsessed monster of a step-father. One wonders how any human could stand for such emotional torment, but as Ms. Cooper says – children are just more resilient than most adults.

That brings me to this crucial moment captured above. In the shot, we see both monster and guardian…both threat and protector. The twist is that the virtuous character is in shadow, and the devious character is in the light. It’s as if director Charles Laughton wants us to remember that even the most gentile soul can find the darkness to do “what needs to be done”, and even the most vile wrong-doer can muster enough charm to appear harmless.

The shot is a continuation of Rev. Powell’s “Right Hand – Left Hand” parable; illustrating the two forces of good and evil going head-to-head without reprieve. Ms. Cooper is prepared to sit there with her trusty shotgun (a wonderful visual if ever there was one), as long as Rev. Powell and his crocodile smile is. They are in perfect balance…and in perfect harmony.

There’s a sad story that goes along with this visually splendid film. Seems as though the studio heads didn’t think much of director Charles Laughton’s film, and they berated him with how little they thought of his work. Whatever it was they said to them, it landed.

This marvellous film would be the last film Laughton would ever direct.

Here’s three more from NIGHT OF THE HUNTER for the road…

This series of posts is inspired by the “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” series at The Film Experience. Do check out all of the awesome entires in their series so far