The Best Films You’ve Never Seen series returns to Melbourne’s The Captiol in 2024, with Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing (1989) and Charles Laughton’s The Night of the Hunter (1955), ranked #24 and #25 respectively in Sight and Sound Magazine’s 100 Greatest Films of All Time list.

2:30 pm – Do the Right Thing (1989)

Spike Lee writes, directs and stars in this story about racial conflict in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant. On a scorchingly hot summer day, simmering tensions between the neighbourhood’s African-American residents and the Italian-American owners of its local pizzeria reach boiling point when a violent altercation leads to tragedy. The film’s fine ensemble cast also features Rosie Perez in her screen debut, alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Danny Aiello.

6:00 pm – The Night of the Hunter (1955)

Charles Laughton’s American thriller stars Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, and screen legend Lillian Gish in the story of two children who must outrun a serial killer posing as a preacher. James Agee’s screenplay, based on Davis Grubb’s 1953 novel, is brought to life in a film that draws on the styles and themes of film noir, classic fairytales, and German Expressionism of the silent era. Critically derided on its original release, it is now considered one of the greatest American films ever made.

The films can be enjoyed independently, or as a double feature, and both are accompanied by contextual introductions from RMIT Cinema Studies academics.  Presented in partnership by RMIT Culture with RMIT Cinema Studies.