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Posted: |
Feb 1, 2003 - 2:19 AM
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By: |
joan hue
(Member)
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I just noted Preston’s reference to his book in the Red River thread, and I decided to add a
wee bit of free press for this fine book.
All right you illiterate scurvy knaves, if you haven’t read our board poster Preston Neal
Jones’ book Heaven and Hell To Play With: The filming of THE NIGHT OF THE
HUNTER, you are absolutely wallowing in ignorance. 
Seriously Preston and others, this was a fine read for me. I watched the movie several
years ago because I wanted to hear the music, and I thought that it was one weird movie.
I really didn’t get it. Why the odd angles? Why the unusual lighting? Why the unique
settings? (Okay, I also wanted to know why Mitchum wouldn’t have sex with Shelly
Winters. ) Anyhow, I appreciated my second viewing of the film a lot more after reading
Preston’s book. The art and craft and purpose of the movie finally made sense when I
understood the director’s vision for the movie.
You get a tremendous amount of insight into all the key characters thanks to the unique
narrative style of this book, to the information from the interviews, and to Preston’s
commentaries. What a shame that this movie wasn’t a hit at the box-office and that we
lost Laughton before he could direct another movie.
If anything in the book surprised me, it was Cortez. (Cinematographer) I couldn’t believe
that he wanted to film this movie in color. So much of the film’s ambiance and mood
seemed to me to emanate from it being filmed in black and white.
Anyway gang, support a fellow board member and do some illuminating reading.
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Oh, shut up, Howard.
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NO! HOWARD goes to detention!!!
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"SEND HIM TO BILLY MUMY'S CORNFIELD"
You BASTARD!
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Sex with Shelley Winters???
Mitchum's character's psychotic -- not crazy!
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Thanks for all your support, gang!
But, I missed something -- how did we get onto "MIDNIGHT CLEAR"? Was it something in Anz's now-blank original post?
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Posted: |
Feb 3, 2003 - 11:45 PM
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By: |
ANZALDIMAN
(Member)
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Joan,
Director Keith Gordon "Midnight Clear" was sort of criticized for being too much of a stickler to the novel in making the film..
I CREDIT him for this..You will find small details like the description of the "chateau", "the pinkish granite with grey shutters" in Wharton's novel,so hauntingly close to what is in the film..Many critics also hated Ethan Hawke's narration in the film. I felt it was vital to understanding Knott, and his men... This was Gary Sinise's first film..And he nailed the character "Mother", from the novel. Also, the switching of John C Mc Ginley's character from "Major Love", in the novel, to "Major Griffin" in the film was much needed (since you saw McGinley's character in the movie!!) Anyhow, when you read it, please let me know what you think...
Jim..
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Hi, Damien,
If you e-mail me care/of the good folks at FSM I believe they'll forward it to me.
Let me know here if you have any problems.
Looking forward to hearing from you and your book,
Preston
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The video and Preston's book are about to be packed, but the novel remains out in the unlikely event I'll sit down and actually read the damn thing within the next month. But I am determined, oh yes, DETERMINED, to complete the hat trick! 
