Blast of Silence (1961)

Director:

Allen Baron

Writers:

Allen Baron (screenplay)
Waldo Salt (narration written by)

Release Date:

April 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

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.

Plot Keywords:

Gun | Orphanage | Rat | Pet Rat | Pet

Cast

Allen Baron	...	Frank Bono
Molly McCarthy	...	Lori
Larry Tucker	...	Big Ralph
Peter Clune	...	Troiano (as Peter H. Clune)
Danny Meehan	...	Petey
Howard Mann	...	Body Guard
Charles Creasap	...	Contact Man
Bill DePrato	...	Joe Boniface (as Bill Da Prado)
Milda Memenas	...	Troiano's Girl Freind [sic]
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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernest Jackson	...	Gangster (uncredited)
Erich Kollmar	...	Bellhop (uncredited)
Betty Kovac	...	Troiano's Wife (uncredited)
Mel Sponder	...	Drummer (uncredited)
Lionel Stander	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Bob Taylor	...	Gangster (uncredited)

Directed by
Allen Baron

Writing credits
Allen Baron		(screenplay)
Waldo Salt		(narration written by) (as Mel Davenport)

Produced by
Merrill S. Brody	....	producer

Original Music by
Meyer Kupferman

Cinematography by
Merrill S. Brody		(director of photography) (as Merrill Brody)

Film Editing by
Merrill S. Brody
Peggy Lawson

Art Direction by
Charles Rosen

Production Management
Joel Mandel	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carole Brody Sheppard	....	assistant director (as Carole Brody)

Sound Department
Lee Bost	....	sound
Al Gramaglia	....	sound re-recordist (as Albert Gramaglia)
John Strauss	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Erich Kollmar	....	camera operator
Jack Schatz	....	assistant camera

Music Department
Meyer Kupferman	....	conductor

Other crew
Elias Jacob	....	production assistant
Gary Labby	....	graphic artist: titles
Will Sparks	....	story consultant

Production Companies

• Magla Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ciné Classic (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• MFA Filmdistribution

Other Companies

• Filmsounds  sound effects

Also Known As:

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:18 | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Magla Productions

Trivia:

At the beginning, which shows a train coming out of a tunnel, this is what would have been seen in a train LEAVING New York. The train, with it's magnificent GG1 electric locomotive, emerges from the tunnel and is seen in Newark's Penn Station. Trains do not burst into the light, an important metaphor in the film, entering New York City but arrive at dark, underground platforms. However the now demolished sky lighted departure hall of New York's Penn Station is seen. Trains between Cleveland and New York generally traveled over the New York Central line and arrived at Grand Central Terminal.

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.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bellhop:Nice view we have here.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Requiem for a Killer: The Making of 'Blast of Silence' (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Dressed in Black

beautiful lit images - effective sound

This B& W film, set in New York uses its locations and actors with great skill. The sound editing is very effective and adds moments of tension to the atypically dark contrasty lighting. One shot of an exterior street is enormously powerful without any action beside the cityscape. The director has a great eye - not as good at acting as directing though. If you like film noir - this low budget film is worthy of your viewing.