The only film Charles Laughton directed was one that broke his heart because it wasn't a hit when it was released in 1955. "Too arty" the studio thought, and they didn't promote it. But, The Night of the Hunter has gone on to become a cult film owing to its blending of genres, its look borrowed from both D.W. Griffith and the German Expressionists, its story reminiscent of the Bible and the Brothers Grimm in a Southern gothic locale, and the poetry of the images, which are the work of Stanley Cortez and Laughton, composed in a simple location, but, most startlingly in the studio.
In an interview in the Criterion edition of The Night of the Hunter, Simon Callow says that the ironic thing is that the film is probably better known than Laughton is, despite its initial poor reception. It's become a favorite of the public and filmmakers—see Spike Lee below—just because of the startling creativity invested in it. It's magical. And terrifying. Maybe too intense for children, but it's story of redemption and the triumph of good over evil is the stuff of children's stories.
Speaking of Good and Evil, perhaps the film is best known for this—Harry Powell's story of the clash between the two forces for the human heart (a battle he enacts, but never has experienced). Played with religious sanctimony by an inspired Robert Mitchum, it is one of the things the film is best known for. Laughton used one take of Mitchum in medium close-up performing it and after it, Laughton (off-camera) read the next line of the script for Mitchum to play to—which is "I've never heard it better told"—and the director added "...and by Christ, I haven't" while the self-effacing Mitchum checked his knuckle for damage when he wrapped the counter, preparing for another take...which was never necessary.
The Set-Up: Ben Harper (Peter Graves) is dead. Convicted of armed robbery, he's been hanged and his cell-mate—the "Reverend" Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum)—has come to town to find the money and zeroes in like a hawk on the Harper family—mother Willa (Shelley Winters), son John (Billy Chapin), daughter Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce)—to get it. To his horror, loyal son John sees the charismatic Powell making his first moves as a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Action!
CLOSE SHOT -- JOHN
He is horrified by what he sees.
GROUP SHOT
They look casually to JOHN, and continue talking.
OVER this JOHN ENTERS the SHOT and stands at the fringe of
the GROUP, staring at PREACHER'S hands and at the doll.
GROUP SHOT -- NEW ANGLE -- FAVORING JOHN AND PREACHER
FLASH-CUT CLOSE-UP -- JOHN
On "Penitentiary" he glances quickly at PREACHER'S face;
then back to his hands.
GROUP SHOT -- ICEY
CLOSE SHOT -- WALT
GROUP SHOT -- FAVORING PREACHER AND JOHN
He hands the doll to PEARL.
JOHN'S eyes follow the doll.
PREACHER holds up both hands to JOHN. JOHN looks back at his
hands.
JOHN stands still.
CLOSE SHOT -- JOHN
He looks on, in dumb alarm.
CLOSE SHOT -- PREACHER
GROUP SHOT -- ICEY, WALT, WILLA -- OVER PREACHER'S HANDS
They are impressed in their different ways.
PREACHER The fingers of these hands,
dear hearts! -- They're always a-
tuggin' and a-warrin' one hand agin'
t'other.
(he locks his fingers
and writhes them,
crackling the joints)
MEDIUM SHOT -- JOHN -- OVER PREACHER'S HANDS
He looks on with unseeing eyes.
PREACHER
(o.s.)
Old Left Hand Hate's a-fightin' and
it looks like Old Right Hand Love's
a goner!
GROUP SHOT -- WALT, ICEY, WILLA, OVER HANDS 
PREACHER
(o.s.)
But wait now a minute!
CLOSE SHOT -- PREACHER
FULL SHOT -- THE WHOLE GROUP
PREACHER takes PEARL, with
her doll, onto his lap.
PEARL offers PREACHER the DOLL to kiss.
PREACHER complies.
CLOSE SHOT -- PREACHER
He does a little take. His eyes twinkle palely.
GROUP SHOT
CLOSE SHOT -- PREACHER
ICEY pours fudge into a buttered pan.
LAP DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. THE RIVER BANK -- CHURCH IN BACKGROUND -- FULL SHOT --
THE SINGING PICKNICKERS
Words by James Agee and Charles Laughton
Pictures by Stanley Cortez and Charles Laughton
Night of the Hunter is available on DVD and Blu-Ray from M-G-M Home Video and The Criterion Collection.
Another angle of the tale that Laughton shot, but didn't use.
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