The Night of the Hunter 4K UHD - Robert Mitchum / Lillian Gish

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Charles Laughton
USA 1955

A tall, handsome “preacher” — his knuckles eerily tattooed with “love” and “hate” — roams the countryside, spreading the gospel...and leaving a trail of murdered women in his wake. To Reverend Harry Powell, the work of the Lord has more to do with condemning souls than saving them, especially when his own interests are involved. Now his sights are set on $10,000—and two little children are the only ones who know where it is. “Chill…dren!” the preacher croons to the terrified boy and girl hiding in the cold, dark cellar…innocent young lambs who refuse to be led astray. The legendary, lone directorial effort of actor Charles Laughton (Witness for the Prosecution), The Night of the Hunter stars Robert Mitchum (Out of the Past) in the most daring and critically acclaimed performance of his career, opposite the equally spellbinding Shelley Winters (He Ran All the Way) and Lillian Gish (Duel in the Sun). Ominous and hauntingly suspenseful, this extraordinary noir classic remains “one of the most frightening movies ever made” (Pauline Kael) and “one of the greatest of all American films” (Roger Ebert).

***

The Night of the Hunter —incredibly, the only film the great actor Charles Laughton ever directed—is truly a stand-alone masterwork. A horror movie with qualities of a Grimm fairy tale, it stars a sublimely sinister Robert Mitchum as a traveling preacher named Harry Powell (he of the tattooed knuckles), whose nefarious motives for marrying a fragile widow, played by Shelley Winters, are uncovered by her terrified young children. Graced by images of eerie beauty and a sneaky sense of humor, this ethereal, expressionistic American classic—also featuring the contributions of actress Lillian Gish and writer James Agee—is cinema’s most eccentric rendering of the battle between good and evil.

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 19th, 1955

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Review: Kino - Region FREE - 4K UHD

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Kino - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Runtime	1:32:25.750
Video	1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 77,920,044,134 bytes Feature: 76,415,631,936 bytes Video Bitrate: 79.64 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate 4K Ultra HD:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1590 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1590 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 2389 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2389 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1584 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1584 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -31dB
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino 1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 77,920,044,134 bytes Feature: 76,415,631,936 bytes Video Bitrate: 79.64 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video Edition Details: 4K Ultra HD disc • NEW Audio Commentary by Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas (4KUHD) • Isolated Music and Effects Soundtrack (4KUHD) Disc 2 Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray • LOVE AND HATE: Filmmaker Ernest Dickerson on THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (8:31) • LITTLE LAMBS: Actress Kathy Garver on THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (9:53) • HING, HANG, HUNG: Artist Joe Coleman on THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (15:42) • Theatrical Trailer (1:38 / Re-Release - 1:36) 4K Ultra HD Release Date: May 30th, 2023 Black 4K Ultra HD Case inside slipcase Chapters 10

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: Kino 4K UHD (May 2023): Kino's are releasing Charles Laughton's "The Night of the Hunter" to 4K UHD. It is cited as being "Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative". We compared two MGM DVDs and the Criterion Blu-ray HERE. There is also an Arrow Blu-ray available HERE - but we don't own it to compare. Both of the BDs were in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio and both MGM DVDs in 1.37:1. NOTE: Criterion released The Night of the Hunter back in the days of LaserDisc - #28 (# CC1128L). It was 2-sided CLV and in 1.33:1 aspect ratio. But this 4K UHD is in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Our friend Peter told us "By 1958, 1.85 was the accepted U.S. standard for most studios, so I think it's a safe assumption that this is a correct representation. (Thanks Peter!).

So the 2160P 1.85:1 framing may be tight at times but doesn't chop any heads and the composition looks fine to me although we do lose, mostly superfluous, information. The image itself has some frequent softness which I perceive as a production factor as I recall on the Blu-ray, but there is grain - sometimes fuzzy - but mostly healthy textures and the contrast is the biggest beneficiary of the HDR and 4K scan. Black levels get deepr and richer while the overall presentation may have darker lower lit scenes but brighter outdoor sequences. Overall it looked pretty sweet on my system - smoother than I would have thought but also exceptionally clean. Certainly the best I have ever seen The Night of the Hunter.

NOTE: The second disc Blu-ray does not include the feature but only extras and it is region FREE.

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 84 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: 12 Angry Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), Branded to Kill (no HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (software uniformly simulated HDR), Two Orphan Vampires, The Shiver of the Vampires, Drowning By Number (software uniformly simulated HDR), Serpico (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cool Hand Luke (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Seventh Seal (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Maltese Falcon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mildred Pierce (software uniformly simulated HDR), Tár (software uniformly simulated HDR), Marathon Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dazed and Confused (software uniformly simulated HDR), Three Colors: Blue (software uniformly simulated HDR), Invaders From Mars (software uniformly simulated HDR), Death Wish (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (no HDR), High Plains Drifter (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mystery Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), Silent Running (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dressed to Kill (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Power of the Dog (software uniformly simulated HDR), Escape From Alcatraz (software uniformly simulated HDR), I, the Jury (no HDR), Casablanca (software uniformly simulated HDR), In the Mood For Love (NO HDR applied to disc), The Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman (software uniformly simulated HDR), Blow Out (software uniformly simulated HDR), Night of the Living Dead (NO HDR applied to disc), Lost Highway (software uniformly simulated HDR), Videodrome (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR), It Happened One Night (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Mummy (1932)(software uniformly simulated HDR), Creature From the Black Lagoon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Bride of Frankenstein (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Amityville Horror (software uniformly simulated HDR), The War of the Worlds (1953) (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Incredible Melting Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), Event Horizon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Branded to Kill (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Killing (software uniformly simulated HDR), Killer's Kiss (software uniformly simulated HDR.)

On their 4K UHD, Kino offer four audio tracks. DTS-HD Master tracks in both dual-mono and a 5.1 surround bump, plus a wonderful commentary by Tim Lucas (see below) all in the English language. Lastly is an isolated score track in a lossless 2.0 channel. Most of the film's brief violence (arrests) is passive and more aggressive plots points (a hanging, knifing murder) are undocumented by the camera. The score is by Walter Schumann (notable composing for the film Dragnet and The Noose Hangs High) - there is also his own arrangements of the traditional Dream, Little One, Dream, Once Upon a Time There Was a Pretty Fly plus Hing, Hang, Hung sung by schoolyard children and "The Lullaby" sung by Kitty White and "nostalgic and expressionistic orchestral passages." There is also Anthony J. Showalter's Leaning on the Everlasting Arms sung a cappella by Robert Mitchum often (also sung a cappella by Lillian Gish with a shotgun on her lap.) I didn't sample the surround bump. Kino include an isolated score track with the film's music and effects. The disc offers optional English (SDH) subtitles - and is, like all 4K UHD, region FREE, playable worldwide. The second disc Blu-ray has only supplements (no feature) and is also region FREE.

The 4K UHD disc - has a new audio commentary by, my personal favorite, novelist and critic Tim Lucas. He discusses the 1953 Davis Grubb novel that he states is one of the finest he has ever read, the controversial prelude to the story, the religious references, how The Night of the Hunter is part Gothic, part biblical and all Americana. Tim comments on the "ejaculation / knife" scene early in the film at the strip-tease show. He quotes producer Paul Gregory and Lillian Gish, shares Laughton's frustrations working with method-actor Shelley Winters, discusses James Agee's screenplay, the Gish sisters, Peter Graves, and how The Night of the Hunter is seen as a 'love letter to D.W. Griffith' with references (ex. Broken Blossoms with Lillian Gish), how it may have inspired parts of evangelist / conman films like Elmer Gantry. Tim observes that the dollar bills in the film are actually Mexican pesos, how Robert Mitchum co-directed some of the children's scenes, and he sees a connection to Max Cady, in Scorsese's Cape Fear, covered with biblical tattoos, the use of animals - mother nature guiding the children on their journey and some influence of Walt Disney etc. He carefully pauses for certain scenes to run. At the end he urges everyone to read Preston Neal Jones book about the making of The Night of the Hunter called Heaven and Hell to Play With and Jones recommends Jeffrey Couchman 's book The Night of the Hunter a Biography of the Film as its ideal compliment. As usual Tim gives a fabulous overview on the film with intriguing, well researched, details. Bravo! An exceptional addition to the package.

On the second disc Blu-ray are three video pieces; Love and Hate has filmmaker Ernest Dickerson talk about Night of the Hunter for over 8-minutes. Little Lambs has actress Kathy Garver discuss her observations on Night of the Hunter for shy of ten minutes and Hing, Hang, Hung gets artist Joe Coleman to share his perceptions for a 1/4 of an hour. There are also theatrical and re-release trailers included.

Kino's 4K UHD release of Charles Laughton's only directorial effort "The Night of the Hunter" has immense value and the film is considered one of the most influential - including by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Robert Altman, and Martin Scorsese - and original films of all time, despite negative reviews upon initial release. The 1953 Davis Grubb novel is based on true story of Harry Powers, who was hanged in 1932 for the murder of two widows and three children in Clarksburg, West Virginia. In 2008 Cahiers du Cinéma selected The Night of the Hunter as the second-best film of all time, behind Citizen Kane. Stanley Cortez cinematography used a variety of lenses and creativity while Hilyard Brown's art direction often has a German expressionist feel. So many scenes are remarkable including the "chapel-like" parents' bedroom murder, Willa's (Winters) dead body and hair flowing in the current in slow motion, the children escaping Harry Powell and their exhaustive river journey, but mostly I love how Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish) sees through the charismatic psychopath Harry Powell and protects the children with a shotgun. Cinema gold. I remain so enamored with this film. Now we have it via Kino's 4K UHD transfer plus a brilliant Tim Lucas commentary, isolated score and effects track and a second disc Blu-ray of supplements. Our highest recommendation!