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The Killers Overview:

The Killers (1946) was a Crime - Drama Film directed by Robert Siodmak and produced by Mark Hellinger.

SYNOPSIS

An insurance investigator (O'Brien) digs up crime, betrayal, and a glamorous woman (Gardner in best femme fatale mode) behind an ex-fighter's (and current gas stations attendant's) death. Classic noir from Siodmak, a master of the genre, scripted by Veiller with an uncredited assist from Huston, based on a story by Ernest Hemingway. Lancaster made a sizzling film debut in the role of Swede, the murdered boxer. Rozsa's main theme was later borrowed for the opening sequence of TV's Dragnet.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

The Killers was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2008.

Academy Awards 1946 --- Ceremony Number 19 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best DirectorRobert SiodmakNominated
Best Film EditingArthur HiltonNominated
Best Music - ScoringMiklos RozsaNominated
Best WritingAnthony VeillerNominated
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The Killers BlogHub Articles:

The Killers (1964) and Tenebrae

By Rick29 on Sep 4, 2023 From Classic Film & TV Cafe

Clu Gulager and Lee Marvin.The Killers (1964). Don Siegel's adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1946 short story "The Killers" is sadly overshadowed by the 1946 film version that made stars of Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner. Siegel's The Killers is a lean, fast-paced drama that borrows elements from th... Read full article

You're Invited! FILM NOIR STYLE Continues with "Year of Transition 1946" and THE KILLERS

on Jul 8, 2023 From GlamAmor

On Saturday, July 29, my 4-part Film Noir Style series continues at the Aero Theatre with The Year of Transition 1946. After my presentation, we will screen The Killers (1946) starring the sensual Ava Gardner and featuring costumes by Vera West. Saturday, July 29The Year of Transition 1946 and The K... Read full article

Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner in director Robert Siodmak's "The Killers"

By Stephen Reginald on Aug 16, 2022 From Classic Movie Man

Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner in director Robert Siodmak's "The Killers" The Killers (1946) is an American film noir directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Burt Lancaster in his movie debut and Ava Gardner. The film co-stars Edmond O'Brien, Sam Levine, and Charles McGraw. The film is based on... Read full article

Film Noir Review: The Killers (1964)

By Danilo Castro on Jun 25, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

“If I knew you were coming, I would’ve set fire to the place.” Remakes are a difficult undertaking, especially in the world of film noir. There have been countless instances of remakes coasting on the iconography of its predecessor, without carrying over the emotion and angst th... Read full article

reblog: Don Siegel’s The Killers

By John Grant on Sep 10, 2019 From Noirish

***A tremendous account by J.D. Lafrance of Don Siegel’s classic hardboiled movie. Wonders in the Dark By J.D. Lafrance The first feature-length adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “The Killers” was directed by Robert Siodmak in 1946 and featured a young Burt Lancaster and Ava... Read full article

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The Killers Quotes:

Jail ward doctor: [speaking about the fatally wounded Blinky] Beats me. I don't know what keeps him going.
Jim Reardon: Will he be able to talk anymore?
Jail ward doctor: He's dead now - except he's breathing!
Jim Reardon: She took a powder. The dough went with her.
Jim Reardon: How well did you know the Swede?
Charleston: Me? Mister, I guess me and the Swede were about as close as two guys can get. For nearly two years we weren't more than eight and a half feet apart. That's how big the cell was.
Big Jim Colfax: If there's one thing in this world I hate, it's a double-crossing dame.
Al: You got anything to drink?
George: I can give you soda, beer, ginger ale...
Al: I said, 'You got anything to drink?'
George: [intimidated] No.
Al: This is a hot town. Whatta ya call it?
George: Brentwood.
Al: Did you ever hear of Brentwood?
Max: [Max shakes his head, no]
Al: Whatta ya do here nights?
Max: [sarcastically] They eat the dinner. They all come here and eat the big dinner.
George: [showing fear] That's right.
Al: [condescendingly] You're a pretty bright boy, aren't you?
George: [intimidated] Sure.
Max: [contemptiously] Well you're NOT!
Max: [to Al] Is he Al?
Al: He's dumb!
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The Killers Facts
Although Burt Lancaster's character name is pronounced "Anderson," it is properly spelled (as in Hemingway's original story) as "Andreson".
This was Burt Lancaster's first important movie role. He was the third choice for the part of The Swede, and was signed only after actors Wayne Morris and Sonny Tufts proved unavailable. Lancaster was an ex-circus acrobat from Union City, New Jersey. When producer Mark Hellinger saw the first rushes of Lancaster's performance in a private screening room, he was so pleased that he yelled "So help me, may all my actors be acrobats!"
The musical theme by Miklós Rózsa, heard whenever the killers appear, was later used in expanded form as the theme music for the TV series Dragnet and its revival Dragnet 1967.
In-joke: In the scene towards the end of the film where Edmond O'Brien arranges to meet Ava Gardner outside a nightclub, O'Brien stands on the street in front of the club, waiting for Gardner to drive up. On the wall behind him is a poster, beginning with "Sir Arthur Hilton presents..." Arthur Hilton, an Englishman, was the film's editor.
"The Hedda Hopper Show - This Is Hollywood" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on April 19, 1947 with Edmond O'Brien and Burt Lancaster reprising their film roles.
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