1950s Archives - The American Retiree

1950s Book & Movie Adaptation Based on West Virginia Serial Killer Captivates Horror Genre Stars

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia was the setting for the 1955 film “The Night of the Hunter,” an adaptation of Davis Grubb’s 1953 novel inspired by a serial killer in the area. The film, actor Charles Laughton’s sole directorial effort, follows the story of Harry Powell, portrayed by Robert Mitchum, a self-styled preacher with tattoos that read “LOVE” and “HATE.” The character of Harry is based on the “West Virginia Bluebeard,” Harry Powers, a serial …

West Virginia-Based 1950s Book, Movie Adaptation Impacted by Infamous Serial Killer

CHARLESTON, WV – The Night of the Hunter, a 1955 film, was set in West Virginia and based on the novel by Davis Grubb, a Moundsville native. The chilling story is inspired by a real-life serial killer who terrorized the area. The film follows the character Harry Powell, a self-proclaimed preacher with sinister motives, portrayed by Robert Mitchum. After being caught for a crime, he ends up in the Moundsville Penitentiary, setting the stage for …