The Night of the Hunter (1955 Charles Laughton)

The only film Laughton made was critically panned - why? It's fantastic.*

Robert Mitchum has never been more sinister (that he's directed by a great actor is no coincidence). So are the kids good (Billy Chapin and Sally Jane Bruce) and Lillian Gish is just wonderful.

Shot in splendid contrasty style by Stanley Cortez. Haunting and somewhat like a Grimm's Fairy Tale. Shelley Winters underwater an unforgettable image.

Mitchum looked after the kids as Laughton 'didn't like them'.

* No.  2 in The Cahiers du Cinéma Top 100.