The Big Knife (1955)

Hollywood actor Charles Castle is pressured by his studio boss into a criminal cover-up to protect his valuable career.

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

James Poe (adapted for the screen by), Clifford Odets (stage play)

Stars:

Jack Palance, Ida Lupino, Wendell Corey

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jack Palance	...	Charles Castle
Ida Lupino	...	Marion Castle
Wendell Corey	...	Smiley Coy
Jean Hagen	...	Connie Bliss
Rod Steiger	...	Stanley Shriner Hoff
Ilka Chase	...	Patty Benedict
Everett Sloane	...	Nat Danziger
Wesley Addy	...	Horatio 'Hank' Teagle
Paul Langton	...	Buddy Bliss
Nick Dennis	...	Mickey Feeney
Bill Walker	...	Russell
Michael Winkelman	...	Billy Castle (as Mike Winkelman)
Shelley Winters	...	Dixie Evans (as Miss Shelley Winters)

Storyline

Charles Castle is a successful Hollywood actor who has opted for screen success over art. He must make critical decisions regarding his career, his marriage, his art & morality. In this screen adaptation of a Clifford Odets play, Castle is pressured by his studio boss and manipulated into a potentially murderous cover-up to protect his career. An indictment of the amoral world of 50's Hollywood and its corrosive effect upon the artist.

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Plot Keywords:

casting couch | murder plot | actor | marriage | scotch whiskey | 

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Taglines:

BEHIND THE SCENE...BEHIND THE MAKE-UP! (original print ad-all caps)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 November 1955 (France)

Also Known As:

Hollywood-Story

Filming Locations:

Sutherland Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$423,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,250,000, 31 December 1955

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Associates & Aldrich Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

3 Channel Stereo (RCA Sound Recording) (5.0) (L-R) Mono (Glen Glenn Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Clifford Odets wrote his original play in 1949.

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Goofs

The camera and operator are visibly reflected in one scene in the living room.

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Quotes

Stanley Hoff: [to Castle, after being slapped] I'll - break - you!

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits: Upholstered furniture by Martin/ Brattrud.

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Connections

Referenced in Mulholland Dr. (2001)

User Reviews

Overwritten and overacted -- what's not to like

"The Big Knife" is really a stage play recorded on film. It's a Hollywood soap opera that features a lot of good actors eating the scenery. Rod Steiger and Everett Sloan are great as the monstrous studio honcho and weaselly agent, respectively. Jack Palance is a competent actor but was woefully miscast as the sensitive, tortured matinée idol -- nobody would ever confuse Palance with a matinée idol. Nevertheless, he does an adequate job.

The power of the studio system in the '50s is well depicted, if a bit overwrought. Steiger's performance is particularly delicious as his toweringly self-centered character cries, wheedles, and intimidates his underlings into doing what he wants.

The movie is showing its age but its excesses, especially its colorful language, are a lot of fun. Recommended, 7 out of 10.