Customer Reviews

Heaven and Hell to Play With: The Filming of The Night of the Hunter

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Heaven & Hell To Play With: The Filming of The Night of the Hunter by Preston Neal Jones is by no means a trivial read, and it is its sheer density that makes it so special. Jones compiled numerous interviews and basically provides an oral history of what many consider a compelling masterpiece, offering as thorough a history as one could ask for. Yes, there is much detail here, and perhaps those not familiar with Laughton's film (or fond of it) may be overwhelmed, but consider for a moment what you have here.

How many of us dream of actually observing the creation and production of a favorite film? Jones provides just that -- even without interviews from Laughton or the principal performers (save Robert Mitchum and Lillian Gish), we see the film of Davis Grubb's novel being imagined, created, and released as described by those who were there, including Davis Grubb. Where a director's commentary on a DVD is typically a trifle, providing some interesting notes and observations limited by the film's running time, this book is all about immersion -- you almost feel you are there, and you're invited to stay for awhile. Jones rarely intrudes upon the first person accounts of the participants, and when he does, it's usually to point out potential discrepancies between remembered versions of events.

The "loose" narrative of oral history, any oral history, fills in an amazing amount of detail by accident, rather than by authorial intent, and this book leaves one feeling completely satisfied (or for those with shorter attention spans on the subject, perhaps a bit full) on a subject that seemed lost -- that we're seeing this book in 2002, nearly two generations separated from the film's creation, shows us the result of determined and dedicated sleuthing. This book can't have been easy to write or compile.

As presented, the book doesn't read like a typical film history, but more like an eyewitness account, and of course, that's what it is. If only more film books like this existed -- the greatest accomplishment of this book is not that you can walk away with facts -- it's that you can walk away feeling not only like you were there, but that you actually knew the participants, and could see where the social fabric between the personalities grew taut and relaxed at key points in the narrative.

Hats off to Jones -- a fine job, and one would hope, as novel in its execution as the film it describes, that will hopefully inspire imitation. Fans of the film are decidedly in your debt.

Night of the Hunter is the kind of movie that jolts your senses in every way. Preston Jones account on the genesis of this cinematic masterpiece is engrossing as the film itself. Meticulously researched, Jones covers every aspect of the making of this classic. Any serious film aficionado would benefit greatly to add this superb book to their library.

Preston Neal Jones has written the best book ever about the production of a particular movie, "Heaven and Hell To Play With," which treats the making of Charles Laughton's neo-D. W. Griffith "The Night of the Hunter." Not only is his book the best of its general category but also it represents an almost-unique category of its own, which is to say that it is the story of a movie production told almost entirely in the words of those who participated in that production. It is built from detailed oral history, and the author, Mr. Jones, is almost entirely absent from the narrative. It is a great book that I read in one day. You just can't put it down. (Now, if only we could have a sumptuous re-recording of Walter Schumann's carefully crafted score. The state of movie music today would be far better if directors were willing to bring composers into their projects early in the process as Laughton did. Schumann was in on "The Night of the Hunter" almost from the beginning, and its shows in the results) GET THIS BOOK NOW !

My first encounter with this classic was as a youngster. Even then, it was apparent to me that I wasn't watching typical Hollywood fare which is the reason it failed during its initial release. However, NIGHT OF THE HUNTER continues to work its magic. Years later, while enjoying the Coen Brothers' THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE, I realized one of that film's most bizarre scenes was surely inspired by NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. Like the Coens and countless others through the years, I was affected by NIGHT OF THE HUNTER because of its compelling mix of imagery that was lyrical, comical and frightening. HEAVEN & HELL TO PLAY WITH is a must-read for anyone who relishes this dark rural fable. The book is full of fascinating first-person interviews with those involved with the production, including the author of the film's source material. They all provide a personal look at first-time director Charles Laughton's techniques and offer clues as to why he never directed again.

This is no doubt the most complete and insightful examination of a most unusual and spell-binding film. It records the remembrances of most of those actors who appeared before camera as well as the technicians and others behind the camera during the filming of "Night of the Hunter" and the involvement of its author, Davis Grubb, as well as the script writer, James Agee, and the director, Charles Laughton. It's clear analysis of the making of the film and the choices made during creation are interesting, although this is not an easy or can't put it down read. The book was just what I was looking for. It's a commentary that should accompany the film.

Mr. Jones' book is very well written. The film itself is stunning in its own way...particularly visually. Mr. Jones' book makes the experience of watching the film even more interesting and enjoyable by calling out important detail and background.

i like how jones' book started off, contextualizing the plot of 'night of the hunter' in american history. and i appreciated some of the trivia and various insights in to the process of making this wonderful, wonderful film. but the book was not nearly as magical for me in the end.

i think it may be because there are writers that do this and are much more clever at it like sam staggs.

oh well, i bought it and i ain't giving it away!

A book only for those people who have seen, and loved, "Night of the Hunter." Offers incredible, detailed insights not only into the making of the film, but also, into the creative process of Charles Laughton (what an incredible shame that this was the only film he directed). What would make the book better? Better editing (a fifth of the book's text could easily be cut) and more critiques from the time of the movie's release, to get into the mindset of that period (because it's mind-boggling that this was a flop when it came out).