The original film is a brilliant neo-noir thriller from the 50's(one of my all-time favorites) starring Robert Mitchum, a young (thin) Shelly Winters, and Lillian Gish, directed by the great actor Charles Laughton (his only directing gig). Mitchum plays this evil con man posing as a preacher going after these two kids (their father was Mitchum's cellmate) who know where a load of cash is hidden. Winters plays their mother. Could make for an interesting, dark musical. Here's some info on the show:
Night of the Hunter
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney