The Night of the Hunter (1955) ft. Ryan Luis Rodriguez
Dana and Tom with returning guest, Ryan Luis Rodriguez (Host of One Track Mind, Co-Host of Reels of Justice Podcast) discuss The Night of the Hunter (1955), celebrating its 70th anniversary: directed by Charles Laughton, written by James Agee, cinematography by Stanley Cortez, music by Walter Schumann, starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, and Peter Graves.
Plot Summary: The Night of the Hunter is a suspenseful drama about a dangerous man (Robert Mitchum) posing as a preacher. Set during the Great Depression, the story follows Harry Powell, a charismatic and unsettling figure who travels the countryside, claiming to be a man of God. In reality, he's a con artist and killer.
When Harry hears about a man who hid $10,000 from a bank robbery, he marries the man’s widow (Shelly Winters) to try to find the money. However, the only people who know its location are her two young children, John and Pearl. As Harry becomes increasingly violent and threatening, the kids flee down the river to escape him.
They find safety with a kind woman named Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish) who protects lost and abandoned children. Ultimately, Rachel stands up to Harry and helps bring him to justice.
The movie mixes horror, mystery, and beautiful black-and-white visuals. It’s a story about good versus evil—and how bravery can come from even the smallest and quietest people.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back Ryan
02:37 Why The Night of the Hunter?
04:25 Background for The Night of The Hunter
06:27 Why Has The Night of the Hunter Become a Classic Only Recently?
10:17 Relationship(s) with The Night of the Hunter
17:30 Did Dana Like It?
22:18 What is The Night of the Hunter About?
25:34 Cinematic Villain Rankings: Harry Powell
29:05 Plot Summary for The Night of the Hunter
31:13 Did You Know?
36:22 First Break
37:13 What's Happening with Ryan Luis Rodriguez
40:00 GMOAT Hall of Fame - July 2025
46:54 Best Performance(s)
57:20 Best Scene(s)
01:06:12 Second Break
01:06:54 In Memoriam
01:15:19 Best/Funniest Lines
01:19:38 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
01:29:29 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
01:32:09 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
01:36:21 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
01:40:13 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
01:43:28 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
01:45:06 Remaining Questions for The Night of the Hunter
01:46:47 Thank You to Ryan and Remaining Thoughts
01:51:19 Credits
Guest:
Ryan Luis Rodriguez
- Host of One Track Mind (IG, Letterboxd, Bluesky, Patreon)
- Co-Host of Reels of Justice Podcast (IG)
- Previous Episodes: Life of Brian (1979), Erin Brockovich (2000)
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/the-night-of-the-hunter-1955-ft-ryan-luis-rodriguez
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
The Night of the Hunter, Charles Laughton, Robert Mitchum, film analysis, cinematic techniques, symbolism, movie podcast, classic films, horror, drama, best scenes, cinematic legacy, classic films, emotional depth, iconic imagery, cultural significance, film dialogue, Shelley Winters, James Agee, AFI, Stanley Cortez, Lillian Gish, Peter Graves
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