In their monthly newsletter sent around this morning, The Criterion Collection have dropped a major clue that pretty much confirms Charles Laughton’s astounding “Night Of The Hunter” on the way.
When we interviewed The Criterion Collection last year, “Night Of The Hunter” was actually a title that came up in our conversation of forthcoming titles but was requested we keep under our hat as negotiations were still tentative. Well, it looks like the ink is dry and things are moving forward and we couldn’t be more excited.
If you haven’t seen “Night Of The Hunter,” it needs to shoot up to the top of your Netflix queue right now. Starring Robert Mitchum, the film is a gorgeously shot, atmospheric and magnificently composed noir about a serial killer and religious nut (Mitchum) who marries a widow whose dead husband hid $10,000 he stole. Believing his children know the whereabouts of the money, Mitchum turns the screws on them to get them to give up their secret. But the story is only half of what makes the film so thrilling. “The Night Of The Hunter” is a visual knockout, anchored by one of Mitchum’s finest and most memorable performances and aided by Laughton’s incredible eye behind the camera. It’s simply one of the most original and unique films of all time; a southern Gothic tale spun into a noir that transforms into something that is truly special and indescribable.
No word on features or extras yet, but we certainly hope the two-hour documentary “Charles Laughton Directs The Night Of The Hunter,” featuring outtakes and rushes from the film is included in the set. And as for the potential cover art, we suggest Criterion don’t give the job to whoever created the wack design for Terrence Malick’s “The Thin Red Line.” Seriously, what is up with that font?
We’ll leave you with the famous “left hand/right hand” scene from the film: the video contains the homage paid by Spike Lee in “Do The Right Thing” followed by original scene from “Night Of The Hunter.”