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IMDbPro

The Big Knife

  • 19551955
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
Jack Palance, Rod Steiger, Shelley Winters, Wesley Addy, Ilka Chase, Wendell Corey, Jean Hagen, Ida Lupino, and Everett Sloane in The Big Knife (1955)
Hollywood actor Charles Castle is pressured by his studio boss into a criminal cover-up to protect his valuable career.
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
97 Photos
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir
Hollywood actor Charles Castle is pressured by his studio boss into a criminal cover-up to protect his valuable career.Hollywood actor Charles Castle is pressured by his studio boss into a criminal cover-up to protect his valuable career.Hollywood actor Charles Castle is pressured by his studio boss into a criminal cover-up to protect his valuable career.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Aldrich
  • Writers
    • James Poe(adapted for the screen by)
    • Clifford Odets(stage play)
  • Stars
    • Jack Palance
    • Ida Lupino
    • Wendell Corey
  • Director
    • Robert Aldrich
  • Writers
    • James Poe(adapted for the screen by)
    • Clifford Odets(stage play)
  • Stars
    • Jack Palance
    • Ida Lupino
    • Wendell Corey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 61User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    Watch Trailer

    Photos97

    23 x 33 inches
    The Big Knife (1955)
    Jack Palance, Shelley Winters, and Ida Lupino in The Big Knife (1955)
    Ida Lupino in The Big Knife (1955)
    Wesley Addy and Wendell Corey in The Big Knife (1955)
    Wendell Corey and Ida Lupino in The Big Knife (1955)
    Wendell Corey in The Big Knife (1955)
    Ida Lupino in The Big Knife (1955)
    Paul Langton in The Big Knife (1955)
    Jack Palance and Ida Lupino in The Big Knife (1955)
    Rod Steiger in The Big Knife (1955)
    Jack Palance and Wendell Corey in The Big Knife (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Palance
    Jack Palance
    • Charlie Castle
    Ida Lupino
    Ida Lupino
    • Marion Castle
    Wendell Corey
    Wendell Corey
    • Smiley Coy
    Jean Hagen
    Jean Hagen
    • Connie Bliss
    Rod Steiger
    Rod Steiger
    • Stanley Hoff
    Shelley Winters
    Shelley Winters
    • Dixie Evans
    • (as Miss Shelley Winters)
    Ilka Chase
    Ilka Chase
    • Patty Benedict
    Everett Sloane
    Everett Sloane
    • Nat Danziger
    Wesley Addy
    Wesley Addy
    • Hank Teagle
    Paul Langton
    Paul Langton
    • Buddy Bliss
    Nick Dennis
    Nick Dennis
    • Mickey Feeney
    Bill Walker
    Bill Walker
    • Russell
    Michael Winkelman
    Michael Winkelman
    • Billy Castle
    • (as Mike Winkelman)
    Richard Boone
    Richard Boone
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Cravat
    Nick Cravat
    • Nick
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Emhardt
    Robert Emhardt
    • Bit Part
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Fox
    Michael Fox
    • Prize Fight Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    Strother Martin
    Strother Martin
    • Stillman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • James Poe(adapted for the screen by)
      • Clifford Odets(stage play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scandalous cover-up depicted in the film is supposedly based on a real-life incident involving a young John Huston. Louis B. Mayer apparently paid gossip columnist Louella Parsons a large sum of money not to disclose the incident in her column.
    • Goofs
      The camera and operator are visibly reflected in one scene in the living room.
    • Quotes

      Dixie Evans: They louse you up and call you lousy!

    • Crazy credits
      In the opening credits: Upholstered furniture by Martin/ Brattrud.
    • Connections
      Featured in Les dossiers de l'écran: Les coulisses du cinéma (1970)

    User reviews61

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Tough 50's Hollywood Nightmare!
    One of the 10 best of '55 with sparks flying between Palance & Steiger. Subtle performance by Ms. Ida Lupino and intensity personified by J. Palance. Rod Steiger with white hair and hearing aid is pretty scary. Written by Clifford Odets, this realistic Hollywood tale cuts no corners and does not see out.

    An 8 out of 10. Best performance = Rod Steiger. Too grim for some. Beautiful B/W cinematography and terrific script and the entire cast is deliberate and impassioned. I don't believe it was nominated for anything, but should have been. I'm not sure if this is on video or DVD, but check it out!
    helpful•26
    6
    • shepardjessica-1
    • Dec 12, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 24, 1955 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hollywood-Story
    • Filming locations
      • Sutherland Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA(interiors)
    • Production company
      • The Associates & Aldrich Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $423,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    Jack Palance, Rod Steiger, Shelley Winters, Wesley Addy, Ilka Chase, Wendell Corey, Jean Hagen, Ida Lupino, and Everett Sloane in The Big Knife (1955)
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    By what name was The Big Knife (1955) officially released in India in English?
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