Comments on: A short question about love (and hate).

Question: A short question about love (and hate).

eschatfische — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 08:51:31 -0800

Did the movie NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (discussed here) originate the device of having HATE tattooed on one hand, with LOVE tattooed on the other?

Was this a common prison practice, something in the zeitgeist that NIGHT IN THE HUNTER (and the other films) referenced, or were the tattoos specifically designed to comment on Mitchell's deranged preacher? (He honestly doesn't have a whole lot to do with love, even with his explanation of the tattoo in the context of the film, hence my confusion.)

By: Jairus

Jairus — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 09:38:26 -0800

AFAIK, Night of the Hunter was the originl of the love/hate tattoos.

By: longbaugh

longbaugh — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 09:46:21 -0800

According to this individual -

In 1955 Robert Mitchum starred in a movie named the Night of the Hunter. In this, he plays a sociopathic traveling preacher (and serial killer) who has LOVE on his left hand and HATE on his right. He even uses them in a brief sermon about the struggle between the two forces. As best I can determine, this originated with that movie, and all the copy-cats I have seen since simply mimicked his image. Sideshow Bob in the TV cartoon series The Simpsons, has only 3 fingers per hand, and has LUV and HAT tattoos (with an umlat over the 'a' as homage to Mitchum. Sailors in the days of tall ships often got tattoos on their hands that said HOLD and FAST on their fingers, either as a totem or a reminder. (I've heard rumors of college athletes with TGIF on their feet, to remind them toes go in first. )

By: dobbs

dobbs — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 09:54:28 -0800

NotH is based on a book by Davis Grubb. In it, Harry Powell, the preacher, has LOVE and HATE tattooed on his hands. Yes, the film is the first film to use the device, but obviously Grubb "originated" it.

At the same time, the book is "inspired" by real killer Harry Powers. I don't know if Powers had the tattoo'd hands or was a pretend preacher.

By: scratch

scratch — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 12:09:43 -0800

NotH is based on a book by Davis Grubb. In it, Harry Powell, the preacher, has LOVE and HATE tattooed on his hands. Yes, the film is the first film to use the device, but obviously Grubb "originated" it.

I wouldn't say that's obvious at all. How do we know Grubb didn't do time or see an ex-con with these tattoos? My money's on it being an old-time prison thing (a meme, if you will) begun by a long-forgotten and forever obscure convict.

By: dobbs

dobbs — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 12:15:29 -0800

scratch, you're right. I meant that it's obvious that it had nothing to do with Mitchum (not Mitchell) or Laughton.

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 12:34:06 -0800

The Pogues' Peace and Love has a nice homage.

By: Vidiot

Vidiot — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 21:36:49 -0800

And of course the Blues Brothers movie had "JAKE" and "ELWO OD" tattoos on its main characters...

By: steviehero

steviehero — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 19:51:58 -0800

And of course Spike Lee did a nice little homage to it, including the aforementioned speech by Michum's character, using 90's vintage four-knuckle gold rings in "Do the Right Thing".