The Killers 1946
I was able to get a digital copy of this movie on sale. It seemed like a great choice given the 100% it has on Rotten Tomatoes. It is also the first big movie for Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner. Although Ernest Hemingway gets credit, the only part of the movie based on his writing is the first few scenes. This is a great noir movie, maybe similar to 1944's Doube Indemnity in that it involves an insurance investigator played by Edmond O'Brien. This movie definitely has influenced many modern crime movies, mostly concerning a double crossing criminal gang, femme fatale, and a hard nose insurance investigator trying to figure it all out. While some aspects feel a little stagey, it still has a modern feel to it, with some great side characters and intrigue. Most of the cast are little known actors, but it was an early role for William Conrad. Ava Gardner is very good and looks fantastic. It seems like most of the criminals are overly willing to talk about past crimes in order to keep things moving, but it is still interesting as the movie starts towards the end and then is mostly in flashback from various people's perspectives. It is a fun movie to watch.
Written: 10 Apr 2024