Directed by:
Charles LaughtonScreenplay:
James AgeeCinematography:
Stanley CortezComposer:
Walter SchumannCast:
Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves, Corey Allen, James Griffith, Gloria Castillo, Don Beddoe (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Harry Powell marries and murders widows for their money, believing he is helping God do away with women who arouse men's carnal instincts. Arrested for auto theft, he shares a cell with condemned killer Ben Harper and tries to get him to reveal the whereabouts of the $10,000 he stole. Only Ben's nine-year-old son, John and four-year-old daughter, Pearl know the money is in Pearl's doll and they have sworn to their father to keep this secret. After Ben is executed, Preacher goes to Cresap's Landing to court Ben's widow, Willa. He overwhelms her with his Scripture quoting, sermons and hymns, and she agrees to marry him. On their wedding night he tells her they will never have sex because it is sinful. When the depressed, confused, guilty woman catches him trying to force Pearl to reveal the whereabouts of the money, she is resigned to her fate but the children manage to escape downriver, with Preacher following close behind. (Shock Entertainment)
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Reviews (6)
The question remains as to whether Robert Mitchum is truly such a perfect actor or if he just shines compared to most of the other actors involved. Except for the adorable and believable Sally Bruce in the role of Pearl, the other key characters drained the life out of me with their foolish behavior and the clumsy expression of all manner of emotions from the actors portraying them, which is most glaringly true for the young actor portraying the main hero John, Billy Chapin. His every fear or relief is incomprehensible suffering. Even with better casting, the story of an invincible wolf in sheep's clothing would be nothing more than a tired old tale, permeated with randomly appearing positive or reformed characters and overly saccharine moral messages.
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Unique noir gem. Just as Robert Mitchum has LOVE tattooed on one hand and HATE on the other, so too does this cult classic across take two forms. Is it a thriller or a fairytale? In the opening half, with the two murders and the construction of the story, it looks like the former. But in the second half, the children on their escape pass rabbits, frogs, foxes, ducks and meet an old lady who looks like the grandmother from Little Red Riding Hood. A very special movie you will love. Francois Truffaut described it as the most iconic of cult films. Definitely worth watching, if only for the magnificent black and white cinematography.
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A gritty film noir and at the same time a story about children running away from an evil... man, because calling him a wizard doesn't quite fit, although it actually would. Robert Mitchum is truly incredible, and his battle between the left hand and the right is both captivating and terrifying. A beautiful film that takes your breath away, as this is such an intriguing combination that you can't help but be amazed.
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A repulsive Robert Michum in the role of a murderer without a conscience who threatens his adoptive daughter with ripping off her arm if she won’t obey him. A beautifully filmed noir drama about stolen money and children who are supposed to look after it. The breakneck ending rather spoils the overall effect. An ode to the strength of children.
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An interestingly constructed "thriller for the little ones", which in two different halves compactly polemicises the nature of human love and hate. Perhaps if they hadn't gone so overboard and worked more on the characters (the boy, for example, hates Mitchum automatically and without reason from the start), even the transition between suspenseful noir and family tale of hope and the balanced clash between good and evil would have felt even more believable and whole. Still, high praise for the pleasant storyline, great performances and impressive game with lights, which in few films I have seen playing such an important role. It's a pity it has so much religious filler, although it probably wouldn't have worked without it.
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