'Preacher' Harry Powell quotes from The Night of the Hunter (1955)

'Preacher' Harry Powell

Well now, what's it to be Lord? Another widow? How many has it been? Six? Twelve? I disremember. [He tips his hat] You say the word, Lord, I'm on my way...You always send me money to go forth and preach your Word. The widow with a little wad of bills hid away in a sugar bowl. Lord, I am tired. Sometimes I wonder if you really understand. Not that You mind the killin's. Your Book is full of killin's. But there are things you do hate Lord: perfume-smellin' things, lacy things, things with curly hair.

'Preacher' Harry Powell

There are too many of them. Can't kill the world.

'Preacher' Harry Powell

The Lord blinded mine enemies when they brought me in this evil place...I come not with peace, but with a sword...This sword has served me through many an evil time.

'Preacher' Harry Powell

Lord, you sure knowed what You was doin' when You put me in this very cell at this very time. A man with $10,000 hid somewhere and a widow in the makin'.

'Preacher' Harry Powell

Ah, little lad, you're starin' at my fingers. Would you like me to tell you the little story of Right Hand-Left Hand - the story of good and evil? [He raises his left hand] H-A-T-E! It was with this left hand that old brother Cain struck the blow that laid his brother low. [He raises his right hand] L-O-V-E. You see these fingers, dear hearts? These fingers has veins that run straight to the soul of man. The right hand, friends! The hand of love! Now watch and I'll show you the story of life. These fingers, dear hearts, is always a-warrin' and a-tuggin', one agin the other. Now, watch 'em. Ol' brother Left Hand. Left hand, he's a-fightin'. And it looks like LOVE's a goner. But wait a minute, wait a minute! Hot dog! LOVE's a winnin'? Yes, siree. It's LOVE that won, and ol' Left Hand HATE is down for the count!

'Preacher' Harry Powell

It's my shame. It's my crown of thorns. I must wear it bravely...She'll not be back. I reckon I'm safe in promising you that. I tried to save her...But the devil wins sometimes. Can't nobody say I didn't do my best to save her.

'Preacher' Harry Powell

Chilld - ren. Chilld - ren?

'Preacher' Harry Powell

I can hear you whisperin', children, so I know you're down there. I can feel myself gettin' awful mad. I'm out of patience, children. I'm coming to find you now.

'Preacher' Harry Powell

No, no. No little lamb. Don't touch it. Now, don't touch my knife. That makes me mad. That makes me very, very mad. Now just tell me, where's the money hid? [banging his hand on the table] John doesn't matter! Can't I get that through your head, you poor silly, disgusting little wretch! [Pearl begins to cry] There now, you made me lose my temper. I'm sorry. I'm real sorry. Now just tell me, where's it hid, honey?

'Preacher' Harry Powell

Leaning, leaning!
Safe and secure from all alarms!
Leaning, leaning!
Leaning on the everlasting arms!

'Preacher' Harry Powell

Oh, them poor little lambs. To think I never hoped to see them again in this world. No, dear Madam, if you was to know what a crown of thorns I've borne in my search for them stray chicks.

'Preacher' Harry Powell

Once upon a time there was a pretty fly, he had a wife this pretty fly but one day she flew away, flew away. She had two pretty children, but one night those pretty children flew away into the sky, into the moon.

Ben

What religion do you profess, Preacher?

Powell

The religion the Almighty and me worked out betwixt us.

Ben

I'll bet.

Powell

Salvation is a last minute business, boy...If you's to let that money serve the Lord's purpose, He might feel kindly turned towards ya...Now don't you think the Lord might change his mind if you was to... [Ben falls asleep]

Powell

The night before your father died, he told me what he did with that money. That money's at the bottom of the river, wrapped around a twelve-pound cobblestone.

Willa

I feel clean now. My whole body's just a-quivering with cleanness.

Powell

Good evening, John. Your mother and I are getting married tomorrow in Sisterville. She wants me to be a daddy to you and your sister.

John

You ain't my dad, you'll never be my dad.

Powell

When we get back, we're all going to be friends and share our fortunes together, John.

John

You think you can make me tell, but I won't, I won't, I won't! [slaps a hand over his mouth]

Powell

Tell me what, boy?...We aren't keeping secrets from each other, are we, little lad?...Well, it don't matter. We've got a long time together, boy.

Willa

Harry?

Powell

I was praying.

Willa

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I--I thought...

Powell

You thought, Willa, that the moment you walked in that door, I'd start to paw at you in that abominable way that men are supposed to do on their weddin' night. Ain't that right now?

Willa

No, no, no. [She crosses her hands over her breasts]

Powell

I think it's time we made one thing perfectly clear, Willa. Marriage to me represents the blending of two spirits in the sight of heaven. Get up, Willa. Get up! Now go look at yourself yonder in that mirror. Do as I say! Look at yourself! What do ya see, girl? You see the body of a woman, the temple of creation and motherhood. You see the flesh of Eve that man since Adam has profaned. That body was meant for begettin' children. It was not meant for the lust of men. Do you want more children, Willa?

Willa

I-I, no.

Powell

It's the business of this marriage to mind those two you have now, not to beget more.

Willa

Yes.

Powell

All right, you can get in bed now, stop shiverin'.

Willa

Help me to get clean, so I can be what Harry wants me to be.

Powell

Where's the money hid?

John

Pearl, you swore you wouldn't tell. You swore, you swore, you swore!

Pearl

You hit Daddy with a hairbrush.

Powell

Now you see, we just can't have anything to do with John. You and me will go on down to the parlor, girl.

Powell

John was just plum bad through and through.

Pearl

John's bad.

Powell

Yes, John's bad.

Pearl

Tell me another secret about my dad.

Powell

Oh no, your turn.

Pearl

All right, what secret shall I tell?

Powell

Where's the money hid?

Pearl

John said...

Powell

Where's the money hid? You tell me, you little wretch, or I'll tear your arm off!

Powell

John made a sin. John told a lie. The liar is an abomination before mine eyes. [takes out his knife]

Pearl

It's in my doll. It's in my doll!

Powell

The doll. Why sure. The last place anyone would think to look.