72SSIFF - 20/28 September 2024
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The Night of the Hunter

Charles Laughton
USA
Synopsis

During the Great Depresion, the unemployed Ben Harper robs a bank in a small community in West Virginia and kills two men while doing it. Harper manages to hide the loot before being captured and swears his two children, John and Pearl, to secrecy. His cell-mate before his execution is Harry Powell,a former evangelist. After his release, Powell searches out Harper's widow, willa, who, needing affection, agrees to marry him. Ir doesn't take Powell long to determine that she can't lead him to the hidden money, so he begins to harass the children to find out where it is. He finallly kills Willa to terrorize the m into talking, but they escape and take refuge in the home of Rachel Cooper, who protects and takes care of them. One day, however, Powell finds them. Rachel stalls him until the police arrive, he's captured and eventually sentenced to death. The children stay to live with Rachel. 

Director
Charles Laughton (United Kingdom)
Production
Paul Gregory Productions - United Artists (USA)
Paul Gregory
Running Time
93 m.
Country
USA
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