Film Noir Classics: THE KILLERS

Guest Introduction by Paul Karasik.

The Killers, directed by Robert Siodmak, who received an Academy Award nomination, has long been considered the quintessential noir film: a character study of one man, Swede (Burt Lancaster), who because of betrayal and the love for a woman, Kitty Collins (Ava Gardner) has lost the will to live and waits, alone in one room as his fate unfolds. The entire film, a masterfully edited and photographed series of flashbacks, is Swede’s story, told from the perspective of Riordan (Edmond O’Brien) as he tries to find out the truth.

From a story by Ernest Hemingway.   Burt Lancaster’s film debut.

Paul Karasik has selected three films as prime examples of Must-See Film Noir. Paul is an Eisner Award winning cartoonist whose work has appeared in the New Yorker and whose graphic novels have been translated world-wide. He is the Development Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School and lives in West Tisbury.

“Robert Siodmak directs this for maximum shadowy impact, aided by a crackerjack script from Anthony Veiller (and an uncredited John Huston) and stellar performances from a concrete-solid cast.” – Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing

“It’s one of the great films of disenchantment.” – Wally Hammond, Time Out