Hit men kill an unresisting victim, and investigator Reardon uncovers his past involvement with beautiful, deadly Kitty Collins.Hit men kill an unresisting victim, and investigator Reardon uncovers his past involvement with beautiful, deadly Kitty Collins.Hit men kill an unresisting victim, and investigator Reardon uncovers his past involvement with beautiful, deadly Kitty Collins.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
22K
YOUR RATING
- Writers
- Anthony Veiller(screenplay)
- Ernest Hemingway(from the story by)
- John Huston(uncredited)
- Stars
- Writers
- Anthony Veiller(screenplay)
- Ernest Hemingway(from the story by)
- John Huston(uncredited)
- Stars
Ernie Adams
- Hood with Cane
- (uncredited)
Audley Anderson
- Assistant Paymaster
- (uncredited)
George Anderson
- Jail Ward Doctor
- (uncredited)
Frank Baker
- Fight Spectator
- (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- Writers
- Anthony Veiller(screenplay)
- Ernest Hemingway(from the story by)
- John Huston(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFilm debut of Burt Lancaster. Although this was his first film--at 33 years of age--he received top billing.
- GoofsIn the jailhouse, Charleston (Vince Barnett) tells The Swede (Burt Lancaster) of his love for the stars. As he looks out the window, he says that he says he sees Orion and a prominent star, Betelgeuse. He says that Orion is the "Great Bear" and that Betelgeuse is the "brightest star in the sky." Orion is actually The Hunter. Ursa Major (containing the Big Dipper) is the Great Bear. Betelgeuse, while quite bright, is actually the 10th brightest star.
- Quotes
[last lines]
[after Reardon has wrapped up the investigation, Kenyon congratulates him]
R.S. Kenyon: Owing to your splendid efforts the basic rate of The Atlantic Casualty Company - as of 1947 - will probably drop one-tenth of a cent.
[he shakes Reardon's hand]
R.S. Kenyon: Congratulations, Mr. Reardon.
Jim Reardon: I'd rather have a night's sleep.
R.S. Kenyon: Why don't you take a good rest. I must say you've earned it.
[Reardon starts to leave]
R.S. Kenyon: This is Friday... don't come in 'til Monday.
Jim Reardon: Thanks.
- ConnectionsEdited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
- SoundtracksThe More I Know of Love
(1946)
Music by Miklós Rózsa
Lyrics Jack Brooks
Performed by Ava Gardner (uncredited)
Review
Featured review
Expanding A Hemingway Classic
The Killers is an expansion of a short story by Ernest Hemingway. The first ten minutes of this film is pure Hemingway with two contract gunman occupying and terrorizing a greasy spoon diner. Two of the most malevolent character actors around, Charles McGraw and William Conrad are the hit men.
They're there to kill Burt Lancaster, known to the town as just a simple garage mechanic. Because he left a small insurance policy, his death was investigated by insurance cop Edmond O'Brien. Naturally Lancaster was no simple garage mechanic by any means. O'Brien comes up with Burt's real identity and the reason why a few people wanted him dead.
The Killers was a big break film for Burt Lancaster. He had only done one previous film and that was Desert Fury for Paramount studios which had signed him. Because Universal was looking for an unknown to play the victim, Lancaster's agent was able to land him the part. And because Desert Fury was held up, The Killers became his debut film and he was a star from his first film.
This was also a milestone film for Ava Gardner as well. After The Killers, Louis B. Mayer was most reluctant to lend her out any longer due to the notice that she got.
The plot of The Killers is very similar to that of Out of the Past with Lancaster in the luckless Robert Mitchum role. As for Ava Gardner in her portrayal, she's taking a couple of pages from the Mary Astor school of double crossing, two timing dames. At least Mary had Sam Spade's promise he'd wait for her.
The Killers is a must for Burt Lancaster fans who want to see the film that launched his career.
They're there to kill Burt Lancaster, known to the town as just a simple garage mechanic. Because he left a small insurance policy, his death was investigated by insurance cop Edmond O'Brien. Naturally Lancaster was no simple garage mechanic by any means. O'Brien comes up with Burt's real identity and the reason why a few people wanted him dead.
The Killers was a big break film for Burt Lancaster. He had only done one previous film and that was Desert Fury for Paramount studios which had signed him. Because Universal was looking for an unknown to play the victim, Lancaster's agent was able to land him the part. And because Desert Fury was held up, The Killers became his debut film and he was a star from his first film.
This was also a milestone film for Ava Gardner as well. After The Killers, Louis B. Mayer was most reluctant to lend her out any longer due to the notice that she got.
The plot of The Killers is very similar to that of Out of the Past with Lancaster in the luckless Robert Mitchum role. As for Ava Gardner in her portrayal, she's taking a couple of pages from the Mary Astor school of double crossing, two timing dames. At least Mary had Sam Spade's promise he'd wait for her.
The Killers is a must for Burt Lancaster fans who want to see the film that launched his career.
helpful•438
- bkoganbing
- Apr 15, 2007
Details
Box office
- 1 hour 43 minutes
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
