Masterpiece, or not a Masterpiece:
Judging if Films Still Hold Up Their Status
By Ernest M Whiteman III
Issue #1: Night of the Hunter
Issue #1: Night of the Hunter
“Night of the
Hunter” is the actor Charles Naughton’s only directorial effort and has
received much acclaim since its premiere in 1955. The story follows a preacher
chasing two runaway children. For the longest time I thought this masterpiece
held some sort of elegant tone and subtle gestures based on all the accolades
it has received over the years. When I finally viewed the film, I
disappointedly found it to be a trite, overwrought chase picture featuring a
mugging Robert Mitchum, as a character that can be clearly defined as a serial
killer.
What this
motion picture typically receives glowing review for is the artistry of the
cinematography and editing, as well as the tone and selected angles and shots
throughout. What is overlooked because of the look of the film however is the
on-the-line histrionics of Mitchum, a shallow storyline, pandering one-note
characters. This film is simply riding its cinematography to “Masterpiece” status.
While not a
box office or critical hit when it was first released, the film has sort of
gained a cultish filmmaker following praising it for its cinematography, which
is highly influenced by early German expressionists.
“Night of the
Hunter” tells the story of “The Rev.
Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) is a religious fanatic and serial killer who
targets women who use their sexuality to attract men. Serving time in prison
for car theft, he meets condemned murderer Ben Harper (Peter Graves), who
confesses to hiding $10,000 in stolen loot. Released from jail, Powell is obsessed with finding the money, and he tracks down Harper's
widow, Willa (Shelley Winters), and her two children, John (Billy Chapin) and
Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce).” According to a synopsis
from a Google search.
Roger Ebert
wrote, "It is one of the most
frightening of movies, with one of the most unforgettable of villains, and on
both of those scores it holds up ... well after four decades." I am
sorry but I have to disagree with the Great Ebert. From my own viewing, Mitchum’s
performance borders on silly rather than scary. His over-urged “sow-THAN” accent
and pushed-too-far creepy preacher charms are goofy, just plain goofy. His portrayal
loses any dramatic tension for me as a frightening character. Sure, you can say
that it was a performance of the time, but “masterpieces” should have the
ability to transcend time and fit in neatly into any future era of viewing despite
the times it is made in. “Masterpieces” need not the justification to be great.
Simply put:
“Night of the Hunter” is a shallow piece skating on its technical merits
towards a “Masterpiece” label. I bet no one remembers that the Director of Photography
was Stanley Cortez, the man who should truly be getting the credit for the look
of “Night of the Hunter” as I would rather look at stills from the film rather
than watch it again. Admit it, so would you.
“Night of the
Hunter”= Not a Masterpiece
2016 ERNEST M
WHITEMAN III
