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2002 Talk About Movies
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Contents © 2002
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
Directed by Charles Laughton. Starring Robert Mitchum, Peter Graves, Lillian Gish. 1955, 93 minutes, English, Black and White, USA. Available at Kensington Video.
Matthew: When Dad gives John the money and makes him swear to never tell, that sets up all his misery to come. John won't tell, and, as a result, he's hunted. During the whole film, it's clear John is not worried about the money itself. But his oath takes him to the point where he's ready to die before breaking the promise. Ernie: Still, it's the money that is drawing this evil man like a magnet. And it's the money that's denying them peace even in the happy home they find themselves in. Matthew: When John gets rid of the money, thereby breaking the oath, he's finds happiness.
* * *
Matthew: You see in Ruby and the preacher two different failures with regard to sex. He is so abstracted that he regards all touching as evil and thinks love and the body have nothing to do with each other. Ernie: He equates the desires caused by the stripper with the pleasure of a man and his wife on their wedding night. Matthew: Then Ruby thinks love and the body have everything to do with each other. Ernie: It's all lust to him.... Matthew: ...and all love to her.