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IMDbPro

The Big Knife

  • 19551955
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
18,931
1,521
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
39 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
3.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
18,931
1,521
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • James Poe(adapted for the screen by)
      • Clifford Odets(stage play)
    • Stars
      • Jack Palance
      • Ida Lupino
      • Wendell Corey
    Top credits
    • 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
    • 60User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    Trailer

    Photos39

    23 x 33 inches
    The Big Knife (1955)
    Jack Palance, Shelley Winters, and Ida Lupino in The Big Knife (1955)
    Bill Walker in The Big Knife (1955)
    Rod Steiger in The Big Knife (1955)
    Jean Hagen in The Big Knife (1955)
    Wesley Addy and Wendell Corey in The Big Knife (1955)
    Mel Welles in The Big Knife (1955)
    Michael Fox in The Big Knife (1955)
    Shelley Winters in The Big Knife (1955)
    Shelley Winters in The Big Knife (1955)
    Ilka Chase and Paul Langton 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 reviews60

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The studio system
    "The Big Knife" caused a sensation when it came out. After all, no one in his right mind would dare to criticize the movie industry, after all, it was the studio and its ruthless executives that were exposed as the bad guys, even at the time where the old studio system was disappearing.

    Clifford Odets wrote the original play, which under Robert Aldrich direction doesn't translate to the screen because it feels claustrophobic in many aspects. The movie treatment was by James Poe, did not make the material come alive because of the theatricality of the source.

    Charles Castle, an actor working in Hollywood, is about to commit himself to a renewal of his contract to a major studio. That means another seven years of his life working in whatever pictures the higher ups have in store for him. It couldn't come at a worse time; his wife, Marion, who evidently hasn't a good relation with Charles, is fed up with the idea of staying in Bel Air. Marion pleads with him to give up the movie business so they could have a normal life bringing up their young son.

    Castle has had his share of adventures in Hollywood, something that Marion is aware of. In addition to that, he has a dark secret, something that involved a terrible accident for which his publicist has taken the blame and has even serve time in jail. A couple of women are also in the picture, threatening Charles' marriage.

    To make matters worse, Charles is visited by the head of the studio, Stanley Hoff, who has brought his assistant, the oily Smiley Coy, to help him convince Castle to sign the contract. Charles Castle is finally defeated at the game as Stanley plays his cards right since he has the upper hand. The result is a bitter loss for the actor, who sees no way out of the situation at hand.

    Jack Palance, who, up to this film, had only minor parts, rose to the challenge of playing Charles Castle, who in a way, he had the background, having been a boxer, to play. His work, although a bit unsure, was a revelation to the movie going public at the time. Ida Lupino, an excellent actress, is probably the best thing in the picture. Rod Steiger shows up as the studio head Stanley Hoff, a man that knows well his opponent's weaknesses and uses all in his power to get his way. Wendell Corey, in a small part, also does good work. Jean Hagen and Shelley Winters also contribute to the film.

    Ernest Lazlo's cinematography works well, as does the musical score by Frank DeVol. Robert Aldrich, a man with a lot of experience in the business, was a natural choice to undertake the direction of this picture. His only problem was a basic one, how to open the play to cinematic terms.
    helpful•18
    3
    • jotix100
    • Jun 5, 2009

    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
    • 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

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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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