IMDb RATING
7.4/10
9.9K
YOUR RATING
A thief arrested for a jewelry heist initially refuses to give up his accomplices, but he changes his mind after his wife dies under mysterious circumstances.A thief arrested for a jewelry heist initially refuses to give up his accomplices, but he changes his mind after his wife dies under mysterious circumstances.A thief arrested for a jewelry heist initially refuses to give up his accomplices, but he changes his mind after his wife dies under mysterious circumstances.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 3 wins & 2 nominations total
Robert Adler
- Detective
- (uncredited)
Rollin Bauer
- Sing Sing Guard
- (uncredited)
Harry Bellaver
- Bull Weed
- (uncredited)
Dennis Bohan
- Guard
- (uncredited)
Nina Borget
- Cashier
- (uncredited)
Susan Cabot
- Restaurant Patron
- (uncredited)
Alexander Campbell
- Train Conductor
- (uncredited)
Harry Carter
- Detective
- (uncredited)
Dort Clark
- Man in Car
- (uncredited)
Eva Condon
- Nun at Orphanage
- (uncredited)
Harry Cooke
- Taxi Driver
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOriginally, Patricia Morison played Victor Mature's wife, who is attacked and raped by a gangster who is supposed to be watching out for her while Mature is in prison. Afterwards, she commits suicide by sticking her head in the kitchen oven and turning on the gas. Both scenes were cut from the original print at the insistence of the censors, who wanted no depiction of either a rape or a suicide, so she does not appear in the film at all. Mention is made later in the film about Mature's wife's suicide and an obscure reference is made by Nettie that the unseen gangster Rizzo contributed to the wife's downfall.
- GoofsWhen Assistant District Attorney D'Angelo comes to the cell to talk to Bianco, Udo is sharing the cell with Bianco. D'Angelo then again proposes a deal for Bianco to turn in his accomplices in exchange for leniency; however, Udo is still in the cell within hearing distance. A District Attorney proposing a deal to a prisoner in the presence of another prisoner is highly unrealistic and against policy. As a precaution, these deals are proposed in private to safeguard the inmate's life.
- Crazy credits"All scenes in this motion picture, both exterior and interior were photographed in the state of New York on the actual locale associated with the story."
- Alternate versionsFor the theatrical release in Manitoba, the shot of the woman in the wheelchair going down the staircase had to be shortened.
- ConnectionsEdited into Myra Breckinridge (1970)
Featured review
Richard Widmark belongs to a select few players who from their screen debut became instant stars. No bit parts, no walk-ons, Widmark's first feature role netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and stardom.
Widmark's portrayal of Tommy Udo in Kiss of Death shocked audiences nationwide. When Widmark tied up Mildred Dunnock and threw her down a flight of stairs, gasps aplenty came from audiences. That maniacal giggle became his trademark and fodder for impressionists from then on in. Widmark in fact had to really convince his bosses at 20th Century Fox that he was capable of more than being a psychopathic killer.
Widmark was fourth billed in this film and so dominates it that it's forgotten that Victor Mature is the lead and contributes a good performance in his own right. Mature is a career criminal who was left holding the bag for his associates during a jewel heist. He refuses to rat them out and gets a stretch in prison for it. By his refusal to be a stoolie, Mature gains the friendship of Widmark who has a special hatred for the breed.
Things then go bad for Mature when his wife commits suicide and his two little daughters wind up in an orphanage. At that point he rethinks becoming a stoolie for District Attorney Brian Donlevy and the main action of the film begins.
Mature gives a very good performance of a man running out of options. He's caught between concern for his family and living up to the honor system that criminals have among themselves. Brian Donlevy, usually a villain, does a good job as the District Attorney.
One other performance is worthy of note. Though he only has a few scenes, criminal defense attorney Taylor Holmes is also a real stand out. His Earle Houser is definitely one of the sleaziest lawyers ever portrayed on the screen.
For all the many good performances Richard Widmark has given in his 91 years, his debut film turned out to be the only time he was ever nominated for an Oscar. That's a shame because I could think of a couple of other films like Night and the City, Pickup on South Street and Panic in the Streets that would have been worthy of consideration.
Hopefully the American Film Institute will give Widmark a Lifetime Achievement Award and soon.
Widmark's portrayal of Tommy Udo in Kiss of Death shocked audiences nationwide. When Widmark tied up Mildred Dunnock and threw her down a flight of stairs, gasps aplenty came from audiences. That maniacal giggle became his trademark and fodder for impressionists from then on in. Widmark in fact had to really convince his bosses at 20th Century Fox that he was capable of more than being a psychopathic killer.
Widmark was fourth billed in this film and so dominates it that it's forgotten that Victor Mature is the lead and contributes a good performance in his own right. Mature is a career criminal who was left holding the bag for his associates during a jewel heist. He refuses to rat them out and gets a stretch in prison for it. By his refusal to be a stoolie, Mature gains the friendship of Widmark who has a special hatred for the breed.
Things then go bad for Mature when his wife commits suicide and his two little daughters wind up in an orphanage. At that point he rethinks becoming a stoolie for District Attorney Brian Donlevy and the main action of the film begins.
Mature gives a very good performance of a man running out of options. He's caught between concern for his family and living up to the honor system that criminals have among themselves. Brian Donlevy, usually a villain, does a good job as the District Attorney.
One other performance is worthy of note. Though he only has a few scenes, criminal defense attorney Taylor Holmes is also a real stand out. His Earle Houser is definitely one of the sleaziest lawyers ever portrayed on the screen.
For all the many good performances Richard Widmark has given in his 91 years, his debut film turned out to be the only time he was ever nominated for an Oscar. That's a shame because I could think of a couple of other films like Night and the City, Pickup on South Street and Panic in the Streets that would have been worthy of consideration.
Hopefully the American Film Institute will give Widmark a Lifetime Achievement Award and soon.
- bkoganbing
- Dec 25, 2005
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- El beso de la muerte
- Filming locations
- Chrysler Building - 405 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(jeweler's robbery at beginning of film)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,520,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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