The Killing

1956, Crime/Drama, 1h 23m

45 Reviews 10,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

An expertly crafted noir with more on its mind than stylishly staged violence, The Killing establishes Stanley Kubrick as a filmmaker of uncommon vision and control. Read critic reviews

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The Killing Videos

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Movie Info

Career criminal Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) recruits a sharpshooter (Timothy Carey), a crooked police officer (Ted de Corsia), a bartender (Joe Sawyer) and a betting teller named George (Elisha Cook Jr.), among others, for one last job before he goes straight and marries his fiancee, Fay (Coleen Gray). But when George tells his restless wife, Sherry (Marie Windsor), about the scheme to steal millions from the racetrack where he works, she hatches a plot of her own.

Cast & Crew

Sterling Hayden
Johnny Clay
Coleen Gray
Fay
Vince Edwards
Val Cannon
Jay C. Flippen
Marvin Unger
Marie Windsor
Sherry Peatty
Joe Sawyer
Mike O'Reilly
Ted de Corsia
Randy Kennan (as Ted DeCorsia)
Elisha Cook Jr.
George Peatty (as Elisha Cook)
Timothy Carey
Nikki Arcane (as Tim Carey)
Stanley Kubrick
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Writer
Jim Thompson
Writer
Lionel White
Writer
James B. Harris
Producer
Gerald Fried
Original Music
Lucien Ballard
Cinematography
Betty Steinberg
Film Editing
Ruth Sobotka
Art Director
Harry Reif
Set Decoration
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Critic Reviews for The Killing

All Critics (45) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (2)
Full Review… Wendy Ide Times (UK) Full Review… Glenn Heath Jr. Slant Magazine Full Review… David Thomson The New Republic Full Review… Chris Nashawaty Entertainment Weekly Full Review… Kim Newman Empire Magazine Full Review… Variety Staff Variety Full Review… Arlene Croce Film Culture Full Review… André Bazin L'Obs (France) Full Review… Jean-Luc Godard Cahiers du Cinéma Full Review… Roger Moore Movie Nation Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Full Review… Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine
View All Critic Reviews (45)

Audience Reviews for The Killing

  • Dec 24, 2020
    I love the early works of Stanley Kubrick as much as his literary-like masterpieces (2001, Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon). The Killing is a noir classic.
    Aldo G Super Reviewer
  • Feb 11, 2016
    Being a relatively straightforward crime thriller makes it somewhat unique in the Kubrick filmography, and it's still one of the best movies in the genre.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 08, 2014
    Good, establishes tension by taking its time with the elaborate set-up. The theme of irony runs strong. Well-shot. It maybe would have even been better had the studio not forced the narration onto the film, against Kubrick's request -- in that way, it brings to mind the same dilemma of 'Blade Runner' and the difference between having its narration vs. without. Overall, a good film. I'd put it 3.5-4, but I'll bump it to 4 here.
    Kyle M Super Reviewer
  • Jun 24, 2014
    A decent film noir and an interesting early work by Kubrick. One that is forgotten for good reason - it is passable but not terribly memorable. One can see Kubrick just pumping this out.
    John B Super Reviewer
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