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A Kiss Before Dying (1956)

 -  Crime | Mystery | Romance  -  12 June 1956 (USA)
6.8
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Ratings: 6.8/10 from 1,528 users  
Reviews: 52 user | 10 critic

A ruthless college student resorts to murder in a futile attempt to marry an heiress.

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Writers:

(screenplay), (novel)
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Title: A Kiss Before Dying (1956)

A Kiss Before Dying (1956) on IMDb 6.8/10

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
Bud Corliss
...
Gordon Grant
Virginia Leith ...
Ellen Kingship
...
Dorothy ('Dorie') Kingship
...
Mrs. Corliss
...
Leo Kingship
...
Dwight Powell
Howard Petrie ...
Howard Chesser, Chief of Police
Bill Walker ...
Bill, the Butler
Molly McCart ...
Annabelle Koch
Marlene Felton ...
Medical Student
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Storyline

Student Bud Corliss is wooing Dorother Kingship purely for her father's mining fortune. When he finds she is pregnant he realises she is likely to be disinherited, so cleverly stages her suicide. After a couple of months her sister back home finds evidence to question the suicide verdict, but by then has a new boyfriend of her own... Written by Jeremy Perkins <jwp@aber.ac.uk>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis


Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

12 June 1956 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Amor, Prelúdio de Morte  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(35 mm magnetic prints)| (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1
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Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Bud Corliss: Crying isn't going to help.
Dorothy Kingship: I just can't help it.
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Connections

Remade as Baazigar (1993) See more »

Soundtracks

"A Kiss Before Dying"
Music by Lionel Newman
Lyrics by Carroll Coates
Sung by Dolores Hawkins
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
Cramped budget, fuzzy details, awkward acting
1 February 2004 | by (las vegas, nv) – See all my reviews

Young woman attempts to solve the mysterious death of her sister, which was ruled a suicide. Unfortunately, this is no delicious, Nancy Drew-styled mystery, for the sleuthing is done almost entirely off-screen, and the details we're privy to (like the fact her sister was wearing something old-new-borrowed-& blue when she died) are skimmed over second-hand. The main focus is on Robert Wagner's sociopath, but we don't get much background information on him. Director Gerd Oswald sets up a long sequence in a college chemistry supply lab which goes no place, skirting major plot-issues and personality points in the meantime. The script, based upon Ira Levin's far-fetched novel, eliminates an entire third sister and rushes along Levin's carefully-mounted scenario until it becomes nothing more than a summary of the book. The small town college landscape is vividly captured however, and Lucien Ballard's cinematography is rich (despite a slim budget). Later remade with Matt Dillon and Sean Young--whom Virginia Leith (here playing Ellen) eerily resembles! ** from ****


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Recent Posts
Does the title sequence seem a tad light-hearted? br9young
Original so much better than the remake danskelle
I don't get it pebble1024
never noticed before ajprice-1
locations, locations, locations... mistercopacetic
'Posing' a question simpledays
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