The Unforgiven (1960)

It's perhaps an unpopular opinion to have, but I don't have the affection for Audrey Hepburn that many, many other folks appear to have. Also, from a non-technical POV, the films of the much-revered John Huston often leave me disappointed. Nothing in The Unforgiven caused me to reevaluate either of those viewpoints. It's a story of racism and family set in the old west that had the potential to be extremely hard-hitting, but the stilted acting too often fails to give the topic adequate support, even when allowing for trends of the era. Burt Lancaster's character starts to fit in more comfortably during the final third, but the saving grace for me was the wonderful Lillian Gish.

2½ night musics out of 5

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

We're told at the outset that “blessed are the pure in heart…” That rules out Robert Mitchum’s character, although it doesn't stop him talking directly to God. They have something in common after all: God kills people, too.
The first half is superb stuff, filled with the kind of filmic techniques and cinematic quality that would make even Orson Welles grin and cough up for a round of drinks. The second half has some equally notable scenes but the story feels rushed in the last 15-20 minutes. An appreciation for what it dared to do from a technical point of view and an acceptance that it falls to pieces at the end are required to recognise its true worth.

4 warring fingers out of 5