Hunter's Night

John (played by Billy Chapin) and Pearl (played by Sally Jane Bruce) are a pair of unfortunate siblings whose father, Ben (played by Peter Graves), is convicted of robbery and sentenced to hang. Before his arrest, Ben hid the stolen money in Pearl's doll and made them promise never to reveal this secret. Ben's prison mate, Harry (played by Robert Mitchum), is a disreputable preacher who accidentally learns about the location of the stolen money. After being released from prison, Harry seeks out Ben's wife, Vera (played by Shelley Winters), and finds a way to win her heart to become the stepfather of John and Pearl, thus beginning Harry's scheme. Harry kills Vera, who holds no value for him, and dumps her body in the river while trying to extort the secret of the stolen money from the siblings through threats and coercion. When all his efforts yield no results, a furious Harry reveals his true nature. John and Pearl escape in a small boat from Harry and wander until they arrive in an unfamiliar small town, where a kind woman named Richard (played by Lillian Gish), who specializes in taking in abandoned babies, takes them in. However, their peaceful life does not last long as Harry's evil footsteps set upon this pure land.