 In his later career, he took up stage directing, notably in "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial", and George Bernard Shaw's "Don Juan in Hell", in which he also starred.He directed one film, the thriller "The Night of the Hunter", which after an initially disappointing reception is regarded today as an acclaimed film classic.Laughton was born in Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire, the son of Robert Laughton (1869–1924) and Eliza (née Conlon; 1869–1953), Yorkshire hotel keepers.