Masterpiece, or Not a Masterpiece #1: Night of the Hunter

Masterpiece, or not a Masterpiece:
Judging if Films Still Hold Up Their Status

By Ernest M Whiteman III
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