It's crazy that Charles Laughton only directed this film and nothing more. This is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, and Robert Mitchum is absolutely amazing. Also, I would've never picked up on the LOVE and HATE aspect between this and Do the Right Thing.
I saw Do the Right Thing, and the remake of Cape Fear (and that Simpsons episode) before I ever saw Night of the Hunter, so when I finally saw it I recognized those as referenced to this film immediately
Masterpiece of a film. There's no other film that looks like it visually, it's very unique. It's the film's DP Stanley Cortez's finest work arguably. He's always so good with shadows & silhouettes.
I mean Charles Laughton took a lot of inspiration from German Expressionism. Watch The Golem or Nosferatu and you know where the look of the film comes from.
@@NoirFan84- true. German expressionism and Noir were obviously influences, but they'd never been applied to a southern Gothic aesthetic before... not that I'm aware of at least.
Whenever I watch this I'm reminded of the Universal horror films. In scenes where Mitchum lurches after the children it seems like he's channeling Karloff.
classic film. i need to get it on blu-ray. upon watching this film is where i learned where spike lee got those words on radio raheem's hands. great homage.
I have the night of the hunter on vhs and dvd and it’s one of my favourite films !!!! I always wanted the soundtrack on vinyl but when I have found it the price was too high ! Hopefully it gets re released one day so I can get it !!!!
Stanley Cortez was a great photographer, but he had a reputation for being slow. That is why many directors preferred other photographers who were not as talented but who made the shooting plan easier for them.
Nice appreciation but from what I've read, Laughton had as much of a say, or more, on the final shooting script as Agee. Whether Davis Grubb,, who collaborated with Laughton on the early script had any of his ideas included in the final script I don't know.
"Night of the Hunter" and "Ace in the Hole" are two great examples of little-known 50s black-and-white cultural masterpieces. Completely underrated - both of them.
As it happens I don’t think that. And what the fuck is “steals” doing here? What do you think the process of making art is? Taking inspiration from Night of the Hunter to make He Got Game and Malcolm X is hardly daylight robbery, let’s face it. Would you have drawn a connection independently if Lee himself did not explicitly draw it? I shouldn’t think so.
It's called an homage. Great artists do it all the time. Tarantino credits the dance contest sequence in Pulp Fiction to Godard. Scorsese credits Sam Fuller for a sequence in Raging Bull and La Strada for a character initially used in Mean Streets and subsequently used in most of Scorsese's movies. Ever notice how Joe Pesci is a loudmouth who gets whacked a lot? That's because he "stole" the character from Felinni.
@@RudieObias too on the nose, I like things more up to interpretation like maybe La Haine, even tho La Haine is pretty overrated too. Movies trying to provide commentary on civil unrest issues generally just aren’t the best with how obvious they try to be.
@@lesryglrhfohser Fair enough, but I contend that people still argue about the end of the Do The Right Thing, like did Mookie "do the right thing?" Did Sal? Did anybody? La Haine is a great film too, but there would be no La Haine without Do The Right Thing. Also, when dealing with racism in movies, it has to be clear to be understood. I think different audiences get something powerful out of the film
@@lesryglrhfohser La Haine was far more "on the nose". What are you even talking about? If the only thing only thing you got out of the film was "racism bad" then you didn't really understand it all.
It's crazy that Charles Laughton only directed this film and nothing more. This is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, and Robert Mitchum is absolutely amazing. Also, I would've never picked up on the LOVE and HATE aspect between this and Do the Right Thing.
I saw Do the Right Thing, and the remake of Cape Fear (and that Simpsons episode) before I ever saw Night of the Hunter, so when I finally saw it I recognized those as referenced to this film immediately
Unfortunately audiences didn't respond to this film. That's what basically ensured it would be his only film.
Fairytale Noir at its finest. Robert Mitchum and Lillian Gish were perfect counters to each other in this.
Masterpiece of a film. There's no other film that looks like it visually, it's very unique. It's the film's DP Stanley Cortez's finest work arguably. He's always so good with shadows & silhouettes.
I mean Charles Laughton took a lot of inspiration from German Expressionism. Watch The Golem or Nosferatu and you know where the look of the film comes from.
@karlkarlos3545 I've seen them. It's similar but still different enough for Night Of The Hunter to be a style all its own.
@@NoirFan84- true. German expressionism and Noir were obviously influences, but they'd never been applied to a southern Gothic aesthetic before... not that I'm aware of at least.
The shots in this movie are amongst my favorite in the entirety of cinema.
Whenever I watch this I'm reminded of the Universal horror films. In scenes where Mitchum lurches after the children it seems like he's channeling Karloff.
classic film. i need to get it on blu-ray. upon watching this film is where i learned where spike lee got those words on radio raheem's hands. great homage.
Good that Spike mentioned the James Agee script. Excellent commentary on a great film.
I have the night of the hunter on vhs and dvd and it’s one of my favourite films !!!! I always wanted the soundtrack on vinyl but when I have found it the price was too high ! Hopefully it gets re released one day so I can get it !!!!
I saw as a kid. Never forgot it
It's such a tragedy that Charles Laughton never directed another film.
Love this movie.
Charles Laughton great in Witness For The Prosecution. My father remembers this film with chills!
I gotta segue into these more often
Spike is an all time great. I respect his opinion even if i may disagree
Bona fide Masterpiece.
Do the Right Thing is the best movie of the 1980s.
Hardly. Spike Lee is a hack.
@@johnpendarvis7885 why do you have hate in your heart?
@@johnpendarvis7885 Lee isn't a hack but Do the Right Thing isn't the best movie of the decade. There are several that are far better.
@@salvatoresultana4058oh god. Race baiting is not cool. Idiot.
Mines too
I didn't realize that bots are all over this UA-cam channel too. Bots are everywhere on UA-cam 🤣
👍👍👍
“Chiiillldern! Chillldern!”
Stanley Cortez was a great photographer, but he had a reputation for being slow. That is why many directors preferred other photographers who were not as talented but who made the shooting plan easier for them.
Dang someone deleted my comment about spike lee looking like a snapping turtle.
Nice appreciation but from what I've read, Laughton had as much of a say, or more, on the final shooting script as Agee. Whether Davis Grubb,, who collaborated with Laughton on the early script had any of his ideas included in the final script I don't know.
Spike Lee on Pixar Movies?
"Night of the Hunter" and "Ace in the Hole" are two great examples of little-known 50s black-and-white cultural masterpieces. Completely underrated - both of them.
Love and Hate on the fist is also in Cape Fear.
You may think that Spike Lee is a hack but at least he steals from the best.
Spike Lee is a smart director of his time he really gets messages across in his films
No, I think he's a one-hit wonder and a race war instigator.
A hack? wtf are you on about??
As it happens I don’t think that. And what the fuck is “steals” doing here? What do you think the process of making art is? Taking inspiration from Night of the Hunter to make He Got Game and Malcolm X is hardly daylight robbery, let’s face it. Would you have drawn a connection independently if Lee himself did not explicitly draw it? I shouldn’t think so.
It's called an homage. Great artists do it all the time. Tarantino credits the dance contest sequence in Pulp Fiction to Godard. Scorsese credits Sam Fuller for a sequence in Raging Bull and La Strada for a character initially used in Mean Streets and subsequently used in most of Scorsese's movies. Ever notice how Joe Pesci is a loudmouth who gets whacked a lot? That's because he "stole" the character from Felinni.
This is like a 3 year old reviewing Shakespeare.
You sound like a zygote amongst toddlers
What else could one expect from someone like spike lee?
Just watched my first Spike Lee movie today… Do the Right Thing, wow it’s overrated as hell.
🤦♀️🤦♀️😒
Well, you're entitled to your opinion. Can I ask why you think it's overrated? I think it's the best film of 1989
@@RudieObias too on the nose, I like things more up to interpretation like maybe La Haine, even tho La Haine is pretty overrated too. Movies trying to provide commentary on civil unrest issues generally just aren’t the best with how obvious they try to be.
@@lesryglrhfohser Fair enough, but I contend that people still argue about the end of the Do The Right Thing, like did Mookie "do the right thing?" Did Sal? Did anybody? La Haine is a great film too, but there would be no La Haine without Do The Right Thing. Also, when dealing with racism in movies, it has to be clear to be understood. I think different audiences get something powerful out of the film
@@lesryglrhfohser La Haine was far more "on the nose". What are you even talking about? If the only thing only thing you got out of the film was "racism bad" then you didn't really understand it all.
Is it racially diverse enough for you, Spike?
. . . What a fucking weird comment.
Shut up, snowflake
We do not believe in Spike Lee.
But we do
One-hit wonder, race war instigator
Charles Laughton?
@@RudieObias Doesn't really count as "one-hit wonder" if your only success was also your only try as a director.
@@dr.juerdotitsgo5119 Then are you saying Spike Lee is a one-hit wonder? If that's the case, then you're objectively wrong. He has many hits!
25th Hour, DtRT, Malcolm X, Mo Better Blues, Inside Man, etc... etc...
@@CoolHandLuke7Blackkklansman and He Got Game too