IMDb > Blast of Silence (1961)

Blast of Silence (1961) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   1,145 votes
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Director:
Allen Baron
Writers:
Allen Baron (screenplay)
Waldo Salt (narration written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Blast of Silence on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
April 1961 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Thriller | Drama more
Plot:
A hired killer from Cleveland has a job to do on a second-string mob boss in New York. But a special girl from his past, and a fat gun dealer with pet rats, each gets in his way. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Should be a cult classic more (37 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Allen Baron ... Frank Bono
Molly McCarthy ... Lori
Larry Tucker ... Big Ralph
Peter H. Clune ... Troiano
Danny Meehan ... Petey
Howard Mann ... Body Guard
Charles Creasap ... Contact Man
Bill DePrato ... Joe Boniface (as Bill Da Prado)
Milda Memenas ... Troiano's Girl Friend
Joe Bubbico ... Body Guard
Ruth Kaner ... Cleaning Woman
Gil Rogers ... Gangster
Jerry Douglas ... Gangster
Don Saroyan ... Lori's Boy Friend
Dean Sheldon ... Night Club Singer
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
77 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
West Germany:18
Filming Locations:
Long Island, New York, USA more
Company:
Magla Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Part of the movie was shot during the middle of a real hurricane - the wind seen during the fistfight is not artificial. It was filmed on Long Island during Hurricane Donna (September 10-12, 1960), the only hurricane of the 20th Century to strike the entire East Coast from south Florida to Maine. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Frank Bono is walking down the sidewalk ready to enter the building in which Troiano's girlfriend lives, the street and sidewalk are dry. But just as he turns to go up to the entry of the building, the camera view switches to a different angle, and now suddenly the street behind Frank is all wet from rain. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Bellhop: Nice view we have here.
more
Movie Connections:
Edited into Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 9 (2002) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Torrid Town more

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User Comments

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20 out of 25 people found the following comment useful.
Should be a cult classic, 5 August 2005
9/10
Author: TimothyFarrell from Worcester, MA

Its not technically perfect, but this film remains one of my favorites. Definitely something with plenty of re watching value. You think the classics of Hollywood Noir where pessimistic and hard-hitting? This makes many of those films look light. There is no major studio interference or traditional Hollywood happy ending. There aren't any attractive people or even likable characters. This is just raw and pessimistic film-making. There is little or no plot, just an outline that connects various events in a week of a hit-man. The film is obviously very low budget, but that doesn't matter too much. It adds to the darkness, and the minimalism. This isn't flashy Michael Bay type film-making. This is one of the darkest and most misanthropic films ever made. It also is one of the most memorable.

The film centers around Frankie Bono, a well paid hit-man who is known for his efficiency. He is hired to kill a mob kingpin on Christmas day, and it seems like it will be a very simple job to follow through on. However, he gets sidetracked when he meets up with an old friend from the orphanage and his sister who he still has feelings for. Bono is an interesting if not completely well-developed character. He is pessimistic and feels no need for others, as they only seem to be out to get him as the narrator describes. One of the reasons he is more human than many other protagonists of low-budget noir is the narrator. The hard-hitting narration (provided by Lionel Strander, who remains uncredited but has a recognizably unique voice) acts as sort of a conscience for Bono. This is both a plus and a detraction for the film. The scenes with the narration is obviously due to lack of a budget to afford sound film. The narrator provides background on Bono, and describes his feelings. It may have been better if they had dialog instead to show the feelings of the character. I can't hold it too much against the filmmaker though, because like I stated above this is a very low-budget film, and post-dubbing is always destructing.

Bono is the closest to a well-developed character. The girl who he still has feelings for, Lorrie, is a stereotype, but the filmmaker obviously wants her to be more interesting, so it isn't for lack of trying. Big Ralph is appropriately slimy, and is an all around unappealing and sleazy character, who certainly gets what is coming to him in one of the most impressive death scenes ever caught on film. Luckilly since Bono is the most interesting character, the film centers entirely on him. As far as I can recall, there isn't a single scene where he isn't in it. This is definitely a character study, albeit a crude one.

What makes the film so great? The fact of how unique it is. It's all Allen Baron's show (he directed, wrote, and starred in it), and he equips himself well in all areas. Unlike many other Hollywood versions of Film Noir, these are people you'd run into in the street. The film is gritty beyond belief, and there is a sense of hopelessness throughout the entire thing, unlike the more higher budgeted crime films. It is far from the most technically impressive crime films such as "Touch of Evil" or "Kiss Me Deadly", but is in many ways a perfect textbook example of how noir should be made. Sleazy, irredeemable yet oddly compelling characters, and a depressing atmosphere. From the beginning you know there is no way there can be a happy ending for this film. It sticks in your memory and the lack of finance adds to the atmosphere. The camera-work is very impressive (and you even get to see some vintage footage of early 60s New York).

This is a film awaiting rediscovery, and if the midnight movie circuit had survived, this may have secured a spot on the roster of cult classics. Unfortunately, due to a perceived lack of interest, no major studio feels like releasing a DVD of this impressive film, so the bootlegs are the only ways to see it. The boots are easy to locate from several popular retailers of odd and unusual lost films, and are in overall good quality. Despite the high price of the copies, they are certainly worth the purchase for fans of film noir. This is one of the most hard-hitting noirs I have ever seen, and I highly recommend it. (9/10)

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Blast of Silence (1961)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Should have been called Blast of Unsuppressed Noise Adam_P_L
Remake/Sequel? RoboBobDude
De Niro was great as hitman Frank Bono!!! sir_knightrider_III
Narration + Gun silencer jimadam
TCM Underground premiere May 22nd fcunmys
the ending (spoiler) thewho1-1
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