{"product_id":"9781839023750","title":"Night of the Hunter","description":"\u003ch3\u003eBFI Film Classics\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch1\u003eNight of the Hunter\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSimon Callow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerforming Arts \/ Film \/ Guides \u0026amp; Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Night of the Hunter \u003c\/i\u003e(1955) was Charles Laughton's only film as director. Part expressionist horror movie, part luminous fairy tale, it contains some of the most haunting images in cinema. Willa (Shelley Winters) her throat cut and hair streaming out like seaweed, sitting upright in a submerged Model-T Ford. Her children, framed by looming animals, in a downriver flight from Preacher (Robert Mitchum). Preacher on horseback, a silhouetted threat on the horizon. Rachel Cooper (Lilian Gish) keeping watch in the darkness. \u003ci\u003eThe Night of the Hunter\u003c\/i\u003e is revered today, but it failed on its first release, and Laughton never recovered from the disappointment.\u003cbr\u003eSimon Callow traces the life cycle of the film: from its roots in Davis Grubb's bestselling novel, through casting, production, editing, to its ill-fated release and subsequent elevation to classic status. Emphasising Laughton's skill at bringing out the best in a talented cast and crew, and adding his own commentary and interpretive insights, Callow celebrates a unique cinematic achievement.\u003cbr\u003eIn his afterword to this new edition, Simon Callow looks back on the film and its continuing influence through references, homages and remakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSimon Callow\u003c\/b\u003e is one of Britain's foremost stage and film actors.  He has written acclaimed biographies of Charles Laughton and Charles Dickens, and a three volume biography of Orson Welles, as well as the memoir \u003ci\u003eLove Is Where It Falls\u003c\/i\u003e. He has written on acting in \u003ci\u003eBeing an Actor\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eShooting the Actor\u003c\/i\u003e, which tackles the subject of acting for the screen. \u003ci\u003eMy Life in Pieces\u003c\/i\u003e, an alternative journalistic autobiography, incorporates some of his widely read journalism with memoir. He has also written several shorter books: \u003ci\u003eShakespeare on Love\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eOscar\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eWilde\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eand His Circle \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eDickens' Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e. He was awarded CBE for Services to Acting in 1999.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 December 2026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBritish Film Institute\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9781839023750\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaperback \/ softback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e104\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51223603839116,"sku":"9781839023750","price":16.16,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/getimage_713c2645-7ba8-4426-8039-76422087becf.jpg?v=1783078649","url":"https:\/\/lateknightbooks.com\/products\/9781839023750","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}