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Blast of Silence (1961)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

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84

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Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 665

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Movie Info

A few days in the life of a murderer go under the microscope in this offbeat and intense low-budget film noir, the first feature from director Allen Baron. Frankie Bono (Baron) is a hired killer from Cleveland who travels to New York City a few days before Christmas on an assignment. Bono, a bitter loner who has few friends and little use for relationships with others, has been brought to the Big Apple to rub out Troiano (Peter Clume), a second-rate mobster. After a less than pleasant encounter

Unrated, 1 hr. 17 min.

Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

Apr 15, 2008

Cast

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (4) | DVD (11)

With its finger-popping jazz score and beat-inspired interior monologue (in second person, no less), this might seem comical if it weren't so rooted in existential dread.

January 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Over-eager, unsuccessful, but worth watching.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You'd have to wait until The Killing of a Chinese Bookie for a deeper autopsy of the gangland macho ethos

September 5, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion | Comment
CinePassion

The lost noir classic starts off a bit dubiously... but the increasingly sleazy, realistic atmosphere begins to take hold of you, until you're fairly well rapt.

July 30, 2009 Full Review Source: GreenCine | Comment

pure bliss for lovers of cigarettes, fedoras, and big black sedans

August 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

Absolutely eye-popping film noir about an alienated hit-man. Not without a certain musty charm, especially the scene at the Village Gate where a "beatnik" jazz musician sings "Dressed in Black".

May 9, 2008 Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | Comment
rec.arts.movies.reviews

The film plays like an unholy marriage between the realist films noir of the '40s like The Naked City and the early independent dramas of John Cassavetes...

May 3, 2008 Full Review Source: MSN.com | Comment (1)
MSN.com

The neglected standing of Blast of Silence is the film's own best proof of its uniquely wallflowerish take on film noir tropes.

April 16, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

The tension doesn't so much revolve around the antihero's job, redemption, or ultimate fate but rather the disconnect between its mundane milieu and the grandiose flourishes they're meant to convey.

April 16, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

There's lots to recommend this shoestring picture, not the least of which is Baron's acting ability.

January 22, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Tells you everything you wanted to know about how a cautious professional hit man thinks and acts.

October 22, 2004 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Blast of Silence

A hired killer takes us for a stroll through Manhattan's wet pavement, along with his misanthropic thoughts, and especially directed feelings of utter disgust and hatred for his new target; like he was some kind of a grown up Holden Caulfield.The film, like everybody points out, lacks storytelling expertise. The voice

May 11, 2009
pier007

Super Reviewer

tough film to rate. some of the acting is poor and the voiceover is mostly annoying and unnecessary. also the 'music' in the jazz club scene is like comic relief. still i'm not sorry i watched it. it's nicely shot and kind of existential. worth seeing for fans of film noir and pulp

August 9, 2008
rubystevens
Stella Dallas

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Explosion des Schweigens (DE)
  • Blast of Silence (1961) (UK)
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