QWhat is 'The Night of the Hunter' about?
ACorrupt preacher Harry Powers (Robert Mitchum) marries widow Willa Harper (Shelley Winters) in order to find the $10,000 that her late husband Ben (Peter Graves) hid just before he was arrested, convicted, and hung for murder. The only ones who know where Ben hid the money are his two children, nine-year old John (Billy Chapin) and four-year old Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce), but they swore to their father they would never tell that the money is hidden inside Pearl's doll, Miss Jenny. Harry eventually kills Willa and then goes after the children, who take refuge with tough but kindly Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish).
QHow much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
AFor detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for The Night of the Hunter can be found here.
QWhy does John try to protect Powers and give him the money when the police handcuff him?
AThe reason is not fleshed out in the movie. Viewers have suggested that 1) John is suffering a flashback from when the police handcuffed his father and took him away, 2) John finally broke under the stress of everything he'd been through, or 3) finding out that his mother is dead, John was expressing his grief, perhaps hoping that, if he gave Powers the money, it would bring his mother back.
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