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The Killers (Robert Siodmak,1946)
Director: Robert Siodmak
About: Two hit men come to a small town and kill their 'target', a man named Swede (Burt Lancaster). Swede has been expecting the pair of gunmen and doesn't even try to save himself...Told through flashbacks as an insurance investigator (Edmond O'Brien) tries to unravel the mystery of the death of the Swede, who has a life insurance policy that is now payable. The investigation uncovers an entanglement by a beautiful femme fatale Kitty (Ava Garndner) and a story of treachery, entrapment and crime.
Review: I love the opening where the two hitman are waiting at a roadside diner. Has William Conrad ever been more imposing on the screen? Has any hitman for that matter of fact been more imposing in a noir? These two are a big part of the film even though they don't have much screen time. One last thing about the muscle, I love the way the director Robert Siodmak shows the hit with blinding light flashes. Very cool! Very powerful. This has got to be one of the most dramatic opening scenes in any Noir.
Well the other dynamic duel is The Swede, Burt Lancaster in his first movie role...and Kitty, Ava Gardner in her first big movie role. The couple have a dynamic and doomed chemistry together. Like a moth to a flame, Swede faces his destiny knowing the outcome. It's this finality that makes the movie work for me, more so than the insurance investigation that follows the hit.
I love the way Robert Sidomak constructs his story by flashbacks and real time investigation. This is one of the great noirs and Ava Gardner is the queen of femme fatales.
The Killers (Robert Siodmak,1946)
Writers: Anthony Veiller(screenplay), Ernest Hemingway(story)
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien
Genre: Film Noir, Crime Drama
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien
Genre: Film Noir, Crime Drama
About: Two hit men come to a small town and kill their 'target', a man named Swede (Burt Lancaster). Swede has been expecting the pair of gunmen and doesn't even try to save himself...Told through flashbacks as an insurance investigator (Edmond O'Brien) tries to unravel the mystery of the death of the Swede, who has a life insurance policy that is now payable. The investigation uncovers an entanglement by a beautiful femme fatale Kitty (Ava Garndner) and a story of treachery, entrapment and crime.
Review: I love the opening where the two hitman are waiting at a roadside diner. Has William Conrad ever been more imposing on the screen? Has any hitman for that matter of fact been more imposing in a noir? These two are a big part of the film even though they don't have much screen time. One last thing about the muscle, I love the way the director Robert Siodmak shows the hit with blinding light flashes. Very cool! Very powerful. This has got to be one of the most dramatic opening scenes in any Noir.
Well the other dynamic duel is The Swede, Burt Lancaster in his first movie role...and Kitty, Ava Gardner in her first big movie role. The couple have a dynamic and doomed chemistry together. Like a moth to a flame, Swede faces his destiny knowing the outcome. It's this finality that makes the movie work for me, more so than the insurance investigation that follows the hit.
I love the way Robert Sidomak constructs his story by flashbacks and real time investigation. This is one of the great noirs and Ava Gardner is the queen of femme fatales.