Born to Kill

1947, Crime/Drama, 1h 32m

6 Reviews 500+ Ratings

Nightfall

Two-Lane Blacktop

Detective

Somewhere in the Night

California Split

Rent/buy

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Born to Kill Photos

View All Photos (13)

Movie Info

Drifter Sam Wilde (Lawrence Tierney) murders a Reno, Nev., boardinghouse owner and her boyfriend in a fit of jealousy. Tenant Helen Brent (Claire Trevor) discovers the bodies, but instead of reporting the crime, she leaves for San Francisco as planned to return to her wealthy fiancé. On the same train, Sam flirts with Helen, then tracks her to her half-sister's house, where he continues to pursue her. Although Helen suspects Sam is a murderer, she inexplicably protects him from an investigator.

Genre:

Crime, Drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Robert Wise
Producer:

Herman Schlom
Writer:

Eve Greene, Richard Macaulay
Release Date (Theaters):

Apr 30, 1947 original
Release Date (Streaming):

May 23, 2016
Runtime:

1h 32m

Cast & Crew

Lawrence Tierney
Sam Wild

Claire Trevor
Helen Brent

Walter Slezak
Matthew Albert Arnett

Phillip Terry
Fred Grover

Audrey Long
Georgia Staples

Elisha Cook Jr.
Marty 'Mart' Waterman

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Born to Kill

All Critics (6) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (1)

Full Review… Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness

Full Review… Fernando F. Croce Slant Magazine

Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins

Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews

Full Review… Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid

Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for Born to Kill

Jan 25, 2021

This is about as dark a 1940s film noir as you'll find. It's plot suggests that all people have a sinister side. Robert Wise is the perfect director to explore this theme. And, If you know anything about the real life of the film's lead actor, Lawrence Tierney, you'll know that he's pretty much type-cast as the cocksure, criminal who casts a spell over the women he targets. Claire Trevor, known as the Queen of Noirs, is spellbinding herself.

Aldo G Super Reviewer
Sep 05, 2010

Another good film noir, with a very interesting story of murder and romance. Good acting, good story, it's good.

Aj V Super Reviewer
Jan 21, 2009

Finally, a noir film where the title actually makes sense! Classic psychopath meets girl love story. If you can find it on DVD be sure to check out the commentary from author and noir expert Eddie Muller. Muller's insight into the character and personality of Lawrence Tierney is priceless. It wasn't so long ago that I couldn't even tell you who Robert Wise was. Now I find myself, like a sponge, wanting to soak up every film he ever directed. If I come across one I dislike I'll let you know.

Randy T Super Reviewer
Jun 12, 2008

Another example of great 40's Film Noir.

Anthony V Super Reviewer