I've seen this film a few times now and it remains one of the most enjoyable and memorable films I have ever had the pleasure of seeing.
The film is about convict turned "preacher" name Harry Powers (Robert Mitchum) who marries widow Willa Harper (Shelley Winters) in order to find the $10,000 that her late husband Ben (Peter Graves) hid before he was convicted and hung for robbery and murder. Harry learned about the hidden money when he was a cell mate of Ben's. The only ones who know where Ben hid the money are his children, street-smart nine-year old John (Billy Chapin) and sweet four-year old Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce). The children swore to their father that they would never tell where the money is hidden but Harry will stop at nothing to force them to reveal this information. What evolves is a battle of wills and wit between Harry and young John.
This movie can be divided into two parts: Part one focuses on Harry marrying Willa and trying to become a wonderful stepfather to the two children. He puts on an outward charm to the local towns people but is cruel to his meek and religiously repentant wife Willa and also to the children, especially John who sees through Harry and knows he is a shyster. Harry is relentless in his questioning about the whereabouts of the money with the children. Willa eventually realizes that the money is the real reason why Harry married her and she confronts him. It is after this revelation that we are now privy to the real depths of this man's evil. Part two of the film takes on the air of a dark fairy tale complete with tough, wise "Mother Hen" Rachel Cooper who reads stories from the bible and sings hymns. She finds John and Pearl who have arrived on a river boat. The children live with Ms. Cooper and her foster children. For a little while, the kids appear to live a normal life; although John remains a bit aloof in his new surroundings. The happy fairy tale is soon interrupted as Harry reemerges and the battle between good and evil are heightened to full effect.
Mitchum's Harry Powers is one of the most evil characters on film. He is a psychopath serial killer with hints of Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde. He walks around with the words "love" tattooed on his right hand and "hate" tattooed on his left. His description of why he has these words tattooed on his hands is one of the many memorable scenes in this film. Every character in this film is rich and complex and superbly played, especially Mitchum's Harry, Chaplin's John, and Gish's Ms. Cooper. I'm always pointing out ways a remake might make a film better but in this case, I have nothing. In fact, any remake would surely be inferior to this version.
The film is about convict turned "preacher" name Harry Powers (Robert Mitchum) who marries widow Willa Harper (Shelley Winters) in order to find the $10,000 that her late husband Ben (Peter Graves) hid before he was convicted and hung for robbery and murder. Harry learned about the hidden money when he was a cell mate of Ben's. The only ones who know where Ben hid the money are his children, street-smart nine-year old John (Billy Chapin) and sweet four-year old Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce). The children swore to their father that they would never tell where the money is hidden but Harry will stop at nothing to force them to reveal this information. What evolves is a battle of wills and wit between Harry and young John.
This movie can be divided into two parts: Part one focuses on Harry marrying Willa and trying to become a wonderful stepfather to the two children. He puts on an outward charm to the local towns people but is cruel to his meek and religiously repentant wife Willa and also to the children, especially John who sees through Harry and knows he is a shyster. Harry is relentless in his questioning about the whereabouts of the money with the children. Willa eventually realizes that the money is the real reason why Harry married her and she confronts him. It is after this revelation that we are now privy to the real depths of this man's evil. Part two of the film takes on the air of a dark fairy tale complete with tough, wise "Mother Hen" Rachel Cooper who reads stories from the bible and sings hymns. She finds John and Pearl who have arrived on a river boat. The children live with Ms. Cooper and her foster children. For a little while, the kids appear to live a normal life; although John remains a bit aloof in his new surroundings. The happy fairy tale is soon interrupted as Harry reemerges and the battle between good and evil are heightened to full effect.
Mitchum's Harry Powers is one of the most evil characters on film. He is a psychopath serial killer with hints of Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde. He walks around with the words "love" tattooed on his right hand and "hate" tattooed on his left. His description of why he has these words tattooed on his hands is one of the many memorable scenes in this film. Every character in this film is rich and complex and superbly played, especially Mitchum's Harry, Chaplin's John, and Gish's Ms. Cooper. I'm always pointing out ways a remake might make a film better but in this case, I have nothing. In fact, any remake would surely be inferior to this version.