Reverend Harry Powell

""Not that You mind the killings, your book is full of killings...""

- - Rev. Harry Powell to God.

Main
Rev. Harry Powell is the main villain and antagonist in Davis Grubb's novel The Night of the Hunter and 1955 Charles Laughton's homonym film adaptation, where he was played by Robert Mitchum. He is introduced as a preacher with a contempt for women, who travels across the estates surrounding the Ohio river delivering his sermons. His modus operandi consists in marrying widows only to later kill them and steal their money. Powell actually seems to think he is doing christian service, since he's spreading the gospels and believes God hates women too. While serving 30 days in jail that he receives for the theft of a touring car, he meets bank robber Ben Harper, who has been sentenced to death for the murder of two men during the robbery. He tries to convince Harper to tell him where are the 10.000 dollars he stole, which he gave to his children to hide. As he refuses, Powell decides that upon his release he'll find and marry Harper's widow in order to get the money.

He has the words "LOVE" and "HATE" tatooed on his right and left hand knuckles respectively, which he uses to tell the story of Good and Evil, where ultimately Love (Good) wins.

Trivia

 * He is ranked as the #29 greatest villain in AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains list.


 * Robert Mitchum once said that this was his favorite movie role he played.