Claude is a ruthless and efficient contract killer - until he finds his next target is a woman.
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Title: Murder by Contract (1958)
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1 nomination.
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Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Vince Edwards | ... | Claude | |
| Phillip Pine | ... | Marc | |
| Herschel Bernardi | ... | George | |
| Caprice Toriel | ... | Billie Williams | |
 |
Michael Granger | ... | Mr. Moon |
| Kathie Browne | ... | Mary - Secretary and Party Girl (as Cathy Browne) | |
|
|
Joseph Mell | ... | Harry - Hotel Room Waiter |
|
|
Frances Osborne | ... | Miss Wiley - Ex-maid |
|
|
Steven Ritch | ... | Detective Shooting Tear Gas |
|
|
Janet Brandt | ||
| Davis Roberts | ... | Hall of Records Clerk | |
|
|
Don Garrett | ... | James William Mayflower - Plainclothesman |
|
|
Gloria Victor | ... | Miss Wexley - Bunco Squad |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Claude is a young man with a regular job, no history of trouble with the law and no chance of making any real money. He also has the brains and emotional detachment to make the big bucks as a hit man, and that becomes his new job title. A string of successful hits gets him sent to Los Angeles for his latest job. There he is accompanied by two goons: one who is perpetually nervous and the other who quickly worships the young man as a hero. The cold, ruthless hit man finally becomes unglued when he finds out that his latest target is a woman. She's a witness, set to testify against his boss, and guarded day and night by the police. It's her femininity that worries Claude: women are unpredictable, they don't do what you expect. Claude eventually proves that he is the unpredictable one and his own worst enemy. Written by J. Spurlin
Taglines:
It's Kill or Be Killed!Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
December 1958 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Assassinio per contratto See more »Filming Locations:
Chaplin Studio, 1416 N. La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Claude: I'd still like to work for you.
Mr. Moon: Doing what?
Claude: I want to be a contractor.
Mr. Moon: Have you done it before?
Claude: No, sir.
Mr. Moon: You can only make a mistake once in this job.
Claude: Well, I'm different.
Mr. Moon: What do you mean you're different?
Claude: I don't make mistakes.
[...]
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Shot in seven days. See more »Goofs
In the last scene, when Claude is trying to escape through the drainage pipe the pipe is at least four feet high, when it is supposed to be only two feet. See more »Quotes
Mr. Moon: I'm a retired real estate broker. I don't do anything anymore but sit in my room, look at television, and smoke cigars.Claude: I'd still like to work for you.
Mr. Moon: Doing what?
Claude: I want to be a contractor.
Mr. Moon: Have you done it before?
Claude: No, sir.
Mr. Moon: You can only make a mistake once in this job.
Claude: Well, I'm different.
Mr. Moon: What do you mean you're different?
Claude: I don't make mistakes.
[...]
See more »
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This little gem has dialogue to die for. Production values? We don't need no stinking production values. Not with lines like "You know what you have to be to get a gun like that, George? A civilized country. Are you a civilized country?" Vince Edwards is awesome. I am convinced this is an ancestor of "Pulp Fiction".