Kiss of Death (1947)

Nick Bianco is caught during a botched jewellery heist. The prosecution offer him a more lenient sentence if he squeals on his accomplices but he doesn't roll over on them. Three years into the sentence an event changes his mind.

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Ben Hecht (screenplay), Charles Lederer (screenplay)

Stars:

Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Coleen Gray

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Victor Mature	...	Nick Bianco
Brian Donlevy	...	Assistant D.A. Louis D'Angelo
Coleen Gray	...	Nettie
Richard Widmark	...	Tommy Udo
Taylor Holmes	...	Earl Howser--Attorney
Howard Smith	...	Warden
Karl Malden	...	Sgt. William Cullen
Anthony Ross	...	'Big Ed' Williams

Storyline

Small-time crook Nick Bianco gets caught in a jewel heist and despite urgings from well-meaning district attorney D'Angelo, refuses to rat on his partners and goes to jail, assured that his wife and children will be taken care of. Learning that his depressed wife has killed herself, Nick informs on his ex-pals and is paroled. Nick remarries, gets a job and begins leading a happy life when he learns one of the men he informed on, psychopathic killer Tommy Udo, has been released from custody and is out for revenge against Nick and his family.

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Plot Keywords:

district attorney | prison | stolen jewellery | new york city | evil laugh | 

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Taglines:

From her lips there is no escape!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stoolpigeon

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,520,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Richard Widmark, he only worked 13 days on the picture but had to go out to California for three or four days when a new ending was shot because Patricia Morison's character--Nick's wife--was cut out.

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Goofs

When Nick looks up the phone number of the 37th Precinct in the phone book at the restaurant, it's given as UN 4-3400. But he then enters the phone booth and dials what looks like 345-3326. Definitely no zeros dialed.

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Quotes

Tommy Udo: I wouldn't give you the skin off a grape.

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Alternate Versions

For the theatrical release in Manitoba, the shot of the woman in the wheelchair going down the staircase had to be shortened.

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Connections

Referenced in The Late Show: Episode dated 28 April 1988 (1988)

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Soundtracks

Street Scene
(uncredited)
Music by Alfred Newman

User Reviews

Psychopathic killer stalks jewel thief who informed on him.

Arrested fleeing from his latest jewel holdup, Victor Mature won't talk to the DA so he takes the rap himself and goes up the river, confident the mob's lawyer will take care of his family. Tragedy soon strikes and Mature must rat out a mob hit man to get out of jail for the sake of his two children. Richard Widmark makes his film debut as the psychopathic killer on Mature's trail. The scene where he pushes an elderly, wheelchair-bound woman down a flight of stairs is just as shocking today as it was in 1947. Filmed on location in New York this gritty thriller is a must see!