10 Greatest Directorial Film Debuts

Whilst Charles Laughton may not be a household name, his one and only directorial contribution to cinema is today regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. His flick, The Night of the Hunter, is a wicked trailblazing thriller about a minister-turned-serial killer planning to steal $10,000 dollars from a naive widow.

Starring Robert Mitchum as the cruel and deceiving Reverend Harry Powell, the character is regarded as one of cinema's greatest villains, with Powell's cold hearted demeanor frightening audiences for generations.

Unlike most thrillers of its era, The Night of the Hunter has aged particularly well in regards to both the story's content and visual appeal. This can largely be credited to Laughton, who successfully conveyed the dark and morbid content of the original novel into a suspenseful cinematic classic.

Despite the film's legacy and influence on the thriller genre, the film was initially both a critical and commercial failure. The movie's early struggles ended any hopes that Laughton had regarding any further directorial opportunities and so he swiftly returned to the stage and film studios to continue his impressive acting career.