Film Review: The Killers (1946)

When it comes to adapting literature to screen, short story appears more receptive form than novel and this could be explained with less original content leaving more space for film makers to manoeuvre. Great American writer Ernest Hemingway would have probably agree with that, at least based on his experiences with Hollywood adapting his work. His 1927 short story The Killers served as basis for 1946 eponymous feature film directed by Robert Siodmak, which ultimately became not only his favourite Hollywood adaptation, but also one of the classics of film noir genre.

The original story was written during Prohibition and set in Chicago suburb, allegedly inspired by violent death of Andre Anderson, boxer connected with organised crime. The plot of the film is set in 1946 and begins in small town of Brentwood, New Jersey where two menacing individuals named Al (played by Charles McGraw) and Max (played by William Conrad) arrive into local diner and begin to inquire about gas station attendant named Peter “The Swede” Lund (played by Burt Lancaster), not hiding their murderous intentions. Swede’s co-worker Nick Adams (played by Phil Brown) manages to get away and tries to warn Lund who instead tells him that he is reconciled with his fate. After Sweded gets shot to death investigation of the murder is taken by Jim Reardon (played by Edmond O’Brien), insurance investigator who must find beneficiary of the his insurance policy. The investigation reveals that Lund’s real name was Ole Anderson, that he was professional boxer from Philadelphia and that, after the end of his career, spent few years in prison for stealing jewels. Through stories of his friends and acquaintances, which include Lt. Lubisnsky (played by Sam Leven) Swede’s old friend and Philadephia police detective, Riordan reconstructs Swede’s involvement with Kitty Colfax (played by Ava Gardner), beautiful girlfriend of “Big Jim” Colfax (played by Albert Dekker), minor crime boss who recruited Swede into gang that took spectacular payroll robbery in 1940.

Hemingway’s story was adapted very faithfully, which included using characters’ dialogues, but its content takes only about first twenty minutes of the film. Thankfully, Hemingway had deliberately left the story open-ended and characters’ motivations unexplained, thus allowing producer Mark Hellinger to fill the blanks with the script by Anthony Veiller (co-written by Richard Brooks and John Huston, who were left uncredited). The result is typically “noirish” story about an ordinary man who should have known better but nevertheless gets seduced by wrong woman and pays the ultimate price. The story is, in best film noir fashion, told through multiple flashbacks. Robert Siodmak directs films with great skill, which can be seen in complex robbery scene that is shown in single continuous shot. Siodmak also had composer Miklos Rozsa at his disposal, which resulted in typically noirish soundtrack.

The greatest asset of the film, and its most memorable segment, is the cast. The Killers is best known as the feature film debut of Burt Lancaster, former acrobat who would almost instantly became one of the greatest stars of Hollywood and maintain this status for number of decades. 33-year old Lancaster put his imposing looks to good use, as well as his physical skills, especially in boxing scenes during flashback. But he also shows great acting ability, which makes audience sympathise with his character despite questionable life choices. Lancaster makes great impression despite appearing in film less than his star credit would indicate. Another cast member who was launched into stardom is Ava Gardner, playing typical noirish femme fatale which performs musical number that, despite being impressive, makes this film too Hollywood for its own good. Edmond O’Brien as determined insurance investigator is solid, although his character obviously serves to conform otherwise amoral world of The Killers to guidelines of Hays Code, which stipulated that all crimes must be punished. The rest of the cast is also quite impressive, most notably Albert Dekker as slick villain, Sam Levene as sympathetic policeman, Virginia Christine as Swede’s former girlfriend and Vince Barnett as Swede’s old prison cellmate. Despite an ending which is too melodramatic, The Killers represents good very good piece of cinema which deservedly succeeded at box office. Hemingway’s story was later adapted twice – in 1956 as Soviet short student film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky and in 1964 as Don Siegel’s television film which famously featured Ronald Reagan in his last acting role.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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