The Killing

Infobox Film
name = The Killing


image_size = 225px
caption = theatrical poster
director = Stanley Kubrick
producer = James B. Harris
writer = Story: Lionel White
Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick
Jim Thompson
starring = Sterling Hayden
Coleen Gray
Vince Edwards
Jay C. Flippen
Elisha Cook Jr.
Marie Windsor
music = Gerald Fried
cinematography = Lucien Ballard
editing = Betty Steinberg
distributor = United Artists
released = 20 May fy|1956
runtime = 83 minutes
country = FilmUS
language = English
budget = $320,000
gross =
imdb_id = 0049406|

"The Killing" (fy|1956) is the second feature length film noir directed by Stanley Kubrick, written by Kubrick and Jim Thompson, based on the novel "Clean Break" by Lionel White. The drama features Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards and Elisha Cook Jr.. [imdb title|id=0049406|title=The Killing.]

Plot

Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) is a veteran criminal planning one last heist before settling down and marrying Fay (Colleen Gray). He assembles a team and masterminds a racetrack robbery that, in he end, goes very wrong.

Cast

* Sterling Hayden as Johnny Clay
* Coleen Gray as Fay
* Vince Edwards as Val Cannon
* Jay C. Flippen as Marvin Unger
* Elisha Cook Jr. as George Peatty
* Marie Windsor as Sherry Peatty
* Ted de Corsia as Policeman Randy Kennan
* Joe Sawyer as Mike O'Reilly
* James Edwards as Track Parking Attendant
* Timothy Carey as Nikki Arane
* Joe Turkel as Tiny
* Jay Adler as Leo the Loanshark
* Kola Kwariani as Maurice Oboukhoff
* Tito Vuolo as Joe Piano - motel manager
* Dorothy Adams as Mrs. Ruthie O'Reilly

Cast notes:
*Three members of the cast, Hayden, de Corsia, and Carey, had appeared together the previous year in another low budget noir, "Crime Wave"

Critical reaction

Film noir critic Eddie Muller wrote, "With "The Killing," Stanley Kubrick offered a monument to the classic caper film, and a fresh gust of filmmaking in one package. Who knew when he wrapped it, that it would be the last amusing movie he'd ever make?" [Muller, Eddie. "Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir."]

A.H. Weiler, film critic for "The New York Times," wrote, "Though "The Killing" is composed of familiar ingredients and it calls for fuller explanations. it evolves as a fairly diverting melodrama...Aficionados of the sport of kings will discover that Mr. Kubrick's cameras have captured some colorful shots of the ponies at Bay Meadows track. Other observers should find "The Killing" an engrossing little adventure." [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E03E3D9123BE333A05752C2A9639C946792D6CF Weiler, A.H] . "The New York Times," film review, May 21, 1956. Last accessed: February 7, 2008.]

Film critic Mike Emery wrote, "Kubrick's camerawork was well on the way to finding the fluid style of his later work, and the sparse, low-budget circumstances give the film a raw, urgent sort of look. As good as the story and direction are, though, the true strength of "The Killing" lies in the characters and characterizations." [ [http://www.filmvault.com/filmvault/austin/k/killingthe1.html Emery, Mike] . "The Austin Chronicle," film review, March 15, 1999. Last accessed: February 7, 2008.]

The staff at "Variety" magazine liked the acting and wrote, "This story of a $2 million race track holdup and steps leading up to the robbery, occasionally told in a documentary style which at first tends to be somewhat confusing, soon settles into a tense and suspenseful vein which carries through to an unexpected and ironic windup...Hayden socks over a restrained characterization, and Cook is a particular standout. Windsor is particularly good, as she digs the plan out of her husband and reveals it to her boyfriend." [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117792301.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 'Variety"] . Film review, 1956. Last accessed: February 7, 2008.]

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 96% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on 24 reviews. [ [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/killing/ "The Killing"] at Rotten Tomatoes. Last accessed: February 7, 2008.]

In 2001, Empire magazine named it one of the 50 greatest crime films ever. [ [http://www.theyshootpictures.com/website_Top1000_CriticsChoices_Dec07.pdf They Shoot Pictures] web site. Last accessed: September 5 2008.]

Awards

Nominations
* British Academy of Film and Television Arts: BAFTA Film Award, Best Film from any Source, USA; 1957.

Notes

External links

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* [http://noiroftheweek.blogspot.com/2005/12/killing-1956-12262005.html "The Killing"] at Film Noir of the Week
* [http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews8/killing.htm "The Killing"] at DVD Beaver (includes images)
* [http://evadethenoise.com/2008/07/02/the-killing-1956-the-essential-retro-heist/ "The Killing"] at evade the noise Rating|4|5