Killer's Kiss (1955)

Synopsis: KILLER'S KISS, Stanley Kubrick's second feature-length film (though barely more than an hour), tells the story of a down-and-out boxer who falls for a comely female neighbor, leading to kidnapping... KILLER'S KISS, Stanley Kubrick's second feature-length film (though barely more than an hour), tells the story of a down-and-out boxer who falls for a comely female neighbor, leading to kidnapping and murder. Davey Gordon has seemingly fought his last fight after being pummeled by Kid Rodriguez in the first round. Gloria Price is the hard-luck dame whose window faces Davey's. A dancer at Pleasureland, Gloria is trying to break up with her boss, Vincent Rapallo, but he would rather see her dead before allowing her to be with another man. So when Davey and Gloria start a steamy romance, it isn't long before murder enters the picture. Somewhat similar to his 1951 boxing documentary, DAY OF THE FIGHT, Kubrick's gritty black-and-white film noir, told in flashbacks, was shot on location in the streets of New York, effectively capturing the dark underbelly of the city at night. The camera rarely rises above Kubrick's waist, and the low-angle and ground shots give the film a menacing look. Kubrick believed that a film, like a symphony, must be created by a single individual, so he served as writer, director, editor, and producer on the project. The result is a small picture that provides a fascinating look into the early work of a man who would soon become one of the world's most important and influential filmmakers. [More]

Starring: Frank Silvera, Jamie Smith, Irene Kane, Ruth Sobotka

Starring: Frank Silvera, Jamie Smith, Irene Kane, Ruth Sobotka, Felice Orlandi, Ralph Roberts, Jerry Jarret, Mike Dana

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Screenwriter: Stanley Kubrick, Howard Sackler
Producer: Stanley Kubrick, Morris Bousel
Composer: Gerald Fried

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