#david grubb

The Night of the Hunter premiered on 26 July 1955 in Des Moines, IA, hometown of producer Paul Gregory.

Gregory had been looking for a project for his friend Charles Laughton (the two had collaborated on plays, including The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial in 1953, and Gregory had booked Laughton on a successful lecture tour in 1949-50) and sent David Grubb’s not-yet-published novel to Laughton to consider for his directorial debut. Laughton immediately wanted to make a film adaptation and  contacted Grubb to work on a script. The studio, however, wanted an experienced screenwriter, and hired James Agee, who produced a nearly 300-page script. Laughton significantly re-wrote the script (but gave Agee sole credit. Agee died in May 1955, only 2 months before the film’s premiere) and began shooting on a small budget and 36-day schedule.

Laughton initially offered the role of Rachel Cooper to his wife, Elsa Lanchester, but she recommended Lillian Gish. Laughton watched Gish’s old silent movies and became impressed with not Gish, but the look of the black-and-white films. He instructed cinematographer Stanley Cortez to capture the same look. The studio insisted on filming in color, but producer Gregory fought for Laughton’s vision.

Despite the ‘Paul Gregory Day’ of the premiere in Des Moines, Gregory was bitter about the studio’s lack of promotion for the film and it was quickly put on the bottom of a double feature (behind the B-movie Rubber Roost). “United Artists didn't have the muscle, desire, or intelligence to handle the picture,” Gregory said, and The Night of the Hunter was quickly forgotten.

The failure of the film severed Gregory and Laughton’s professional relationship, and Laughton never directed another film.

David Grubb - Circadia - a "post-folk" set of pieces progressing through the sleep cycle

"Pyrant, Piety, & Pietri Dish" by D. Grubb (@grubbde)

David Grubb, a retired Coastguard Warrant Officer, has creatively written since childhood, yet career/family always came first. He’s changing that aspect of life and loving every minute. His work appears in Touchstone, Toasted Cheese, 1:1000, Sixfold.org, The Elevation Review, Every Day Fiction, The Abstract Elephant, The Bookends Review, Wingless Dreamer, In Parentheses, Havik, Novus, Ab Terra…

"Cupid Undone" and More Poems by D. Grubb (@grubbde)

David Grubb, a retired Coastguard Warrant Officer, has creatively written since childhood, yet career/family always came first. He’s changing that aspect of life and loving every minute. His work appears in Touchstone, Toasted Cheese, 1:1000, Sixfold.org, The Elevation Review, Every Day Fiction, The Abstract Elephant, The Bookends Review, Wingless Dreamer, In Parentheses, Havik, Novus, Ab Terra…