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 | death of wife | prison visit | shot multiple times | parolee | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on a story by Eleazar Lipsky, a former Manhattan Asst. District Attorney. Twentieth Century-Fox bought the film rights in November 1946 as a vehicle specifically for Victor Mature.

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Goofs

When Bianco sits down at the club with Udo and his girl companion; he throws a pack of cigarettes and matches on to the table. But on the next cut, the cigarettes and matches have now changed its location of the table.

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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 Pit (1981)

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Soundtracks

Street Scene
(uncredited)
Music by Alfred Newman

User Reviews

Brief review

Richard Widmark as a giggling, heartless hoodlum pushing a wheelchair bound old lady down the stairs, that's what everyone remembers of this superb classic. The film follows luckless Nick Bianco (Victor Mature's best role), a NYC holdup man who is caught during an Xmas season hit. Sent to prison, he needs to be near his now parentless children (His wife committed suicide). He becomes an informant, and is released. Widmark, as hoodlum Tommy Udo (All film fans have no trouble remembering that name) targets stoolie Mature for death. The film begins (with the failed robbery) and ends (the showdown between Widmark, Mature and DA Brian Donlevy) with superb suspense sequenses played almost silent.

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