Dorothea Black

This has to be one of the best movies ever made! Robert Michum portrays the most evil character I've ever seen in a movie. What a shame that the film originally got poor reviews and influenced Charles Laughton so negatively that he never directed another film. The use of contrasts is intense - black vs. white, dark vs. light, innocent children vs. a cold-blooded killer who stalks them. Finally good triumphs when Lillian Gish recognizes that sham preacher as the evil monster he is and protects and saves the children. Look for many other contrasts representing good vs. evil. Great film!!! Hold on to your seats!

I was amazed at the brilliant directorship of this "children's movie" which it is NOT! The use of repeated motifs draws the pieces into a compact whole and cements the major themes in the film. If you haven't seen this film, I highly recommend you watch it and watch it carefully. It has become one of my favorite movies EVER.