IMDb > The Killers (1946)
The Killers
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The Killers (1946) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   5,032 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Robert Siodmak
Writers:
Ernest Hemingway (story)
Anthony Veiller (screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Killers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 August 1946 (USA) more
Tagline:
THE MOST SUSPENSEFUL PICTURE OF ALL TIME! (re-release print ad - all caps) more
Plot:
Hit men kill an unresisting victim, and investigator Reardon uncovers his past involvement with beautiful, deadly Kitty Collins. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins more
User Comments:
Has aged unbelievably well. more (56 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
A Man Alone
Ernest Hemingway's The Killers (USA) (complete title)
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Runtime:
103 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The boxing match in the third flashback was filmed in a boxing arena for an audience of 2000 spectators. Burt Lancaster trained for two months with a boxing champion and played the part of the Swede with realism, against a real boxer, until his 2nd KD and TKO. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: There were several errors involving the firearms used. When Burt robs his cohorts, the gun is obviously not real, probably rubber, because the barrel is pointed downward from the frame. If he were to shoot at someone's chest, the bullet would probably hit below the belt. When Edmond O'Brien is holding his pistol at the bad guy, he says it is a .45, but a trained eye can see that it is either a .32 or .380, most likely of Spanish origin. When Edmond asks Sam Levine if he has another .45 for him, Levine says yes, but the gun turns out to be a .38 revolver instead. more
Quotes:
Reardon: Good morning, Stella.
Stella: Good morning, dream boy.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Rules of Film Noir (2009) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
THE MORE I KNOW OF LOVE more

FAQ

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37 out of 42 people found the following comment useful.
Has aged unbelievably well., 11 November 2004
9/10
Author: cebudden-1 from Vancouver, Canada

Maybe I've just seen too many old movies, but for me, other than the period fedoras and suits, nothing about this movie would really give away that it's almost 60 years old.

The plot is solid and keeps you guessing until the end, with many twists and turns along the way, and is told asynchronously (perhaps necessary for today's audiences, which may be why it holds up so well). The acting is great, quite realistic, and for the most part avoids the maudlin sentiment and overacting that characterizes some older films.

The Killers is an incredibly enjoyable crime film, perhaps the perfect crime film. I haven't seen the remake, so I can't comment on that, but I hold this film in high regard.

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Use of the ''''n'''' word!!!! richsass
little guy with a cane lukemcgook
Mistakes? foggybottom3
The Hitmen!!! richsass
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who double-crossed who? mhutchi127-1
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