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The Killers (1946)

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Average Rating: 8.1/10
Reviews Counted: 31
Fresh: 31 | Rotten: 0

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Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 0

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Movie Info

The Killers uses Ernest Hemingway's short story as a springboard for a complex film noir. Two mysterious men (William Conrad and Charles McGraw) muscle their way into a small town and kill an aging boxer (Burt Lancaster, making his screen debut), who offers no resistance and seems to be welcoming his death. An insurance investigator (Edmond O'Brien) is hired to locate the beneficiary to Lancaster's policy, and in the course of his investigation reopens a long-dormant robbery case. In a series of

Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.

Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

Directed By: Robert Siodmak

Written By: Ernest Hemingway, Anthony Veiller

In Theaters: Aug 28, 1946 Wide

On DVD: Apr 14, 1998

Cast

Burt Lancaster
Ole "Swede" Anderson
Ava Gardner
Kitty Collins
Edmond O'Brien
Jim Reardon
Albert Dekker
Big Jim Colfax
Jeff Corey
Blinky
Sam Levene
Lt. Sam Lubinsky
William Conrad
Killer
Jack Lambert
Dum Dum
Virginia Christine
Lilly Lubinsky
Harry Hayden
George
John Miljan
Jake the Rake
Garry Owen
Joe Smalley trainer
Scott Wallace
Charlie
Queenie Smith
Queenie
Bill Walker
Sam
Gabrielle Windsor
Ginny
Ernie S. Adams
Little Man
George Anderson
Doctor
Vince Barnett
Charleston
John Berkes
Plunther
Charles D. Brown
Packy Robinson
Phil Brown
Nick Adams
Jack Cheatham
Police Driver
Noel Cravat
Lou Tringle
Rev. Neal Dodd
Minister
Mike Pat Donovan
Timekeeper
Howard Freeman
Police Chief
Michael Hale
Pet
Al Hill
Customer
Ethan Laidlaw
Conductor
Perc Launders
Policeman
Nolan Leary
Waiter
Vera Lewis
Mrs. Hirsch
Therese Lyon
Mrs. Grimes housekeeper
Donald MacBride
Kenyon
Charles McGraw
Killer
Charles B. Middleton
Farmer Brown
Beatrice Roberts
Nurse
William H. Ruhl
Motorman
John Sheehan
Doctor
Ann Staunton
Stella
John Trebach
Waiter
Milton Wallace
Waiter
Howard Negley
Policeman
Wally Rose
Bartender
Audley Anderson
Assistant Paymaster
Harry Brown
Paymaster

Critic Reviews for The Killers

All Critics (31) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (32) | Rotten (0) | DVD (9)

Taken from Ernest Hemingway's story of the same title, picture is a hard-hitting example of forthright melodrama in the best Hemingway style. Performances without exception are top quality.

April 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

An example of film noir at its most expressive.

April 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

As mere movie melodrama, pieced out as a mystery which is patiently unfolded by a sleuthing insurance man, it makes a diverting picture.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

Compelling, beautifully shot film noir, marking the stunning debut of Burt Lancaster.

April 5, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Film noir with spectacularly photographed set pieces.

July 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Classic Film and Television

| Comment

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Nominated for four Oscars, Robert Siodmak's The Killers expands on Hemingway's short story in classic film noir style, with a dense plot that ends in an unexpected double cross

May 30, 2008 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile

| Comment

Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

The definitve screen rendition of Hemingway's story.

April 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

It's a classic by a supreme exponent of that genre, German emigre Robert Siodmak.

April 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Observer [UK]

| Comment

Philip French

Observer [UK]

A near-classic of 40s film noir.

April 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]

| Comment

Xan Brooks

Guardian [UK]

It's one of the great films of disenchantment.

February 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Wally Hammond

Time Out

Only the first scene of Siodmak's classic film noir comes from the Ernest Hemingway short story; the rest is pure postwar fatalism from the pen of Anthony Veiller (and an uncredited John Huston).

February 17, 2006 Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly

| Comment

Thomas Delapa

Boulder Weekly Source: Boulder Weekly

Wonderful, sooty noir.

September 17, 2004 Comment

Jake Euker

F5 (Wichita, KS) Source: F5 (Wichita, KS)

Siodmak's crafty direction emphasizes shadows, dark rooms and the feel of stale cigarettes, booze and general hoplelessness.

June 14, 2004 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Killers

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When a gas pump attendant is executed by a pair of professional killers an insurance investigator starts digging to find out why. One of the quintessential benchmarks of Film Noir, The Killers is based on a short story by Ernest Hemingway and was the launch platform for the careers of both Burt Lancaster and Ava

November 30, 2007

xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

From the opening scene, Siodmak introduces the audience to two of the best hitmen that the silver screen has to offer.. This breathtaking opening sure sets the tone for this fantastic 1946 film noir. While not as stylish and captivating as other famous Noirs such as Laura, this film still a classic. Told mostly through

February 23, 2011

Reid Volk

Super Reviewer

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