Reviews
John Chard

John Chard

February 7, 2019
8.0
The only man who isn't afraid of dying is dead already. The Killers is directed by Don Siegel and adapted to screenplay by Gene L. Coon from the short story written by Ernest Hemmingway. It stars Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, Clu Gulager, John Cassavetes, Ronald Reagan and Claude Akins. Music is by John Williams and cinematography by Richard L. Rawlings. Hit men Charlie (Marvin) and Lee (Gulager) enter a school for the blind and gun down motor mechanic teacher Johnny North (Cassavetes). He doesn't resist. Why? This question bothers Charlie and he sets about finding out... It's difficult when reading the name The Killers to not think of the 1946 film made by Robert Siodmak, a film that is revered as one of the quintessential movies of film noir. But Don Siegel's film, a re-jigging of the plot, is well worthy of consideration as quintessential neo-noir. Originally slated to be the first made for TV movie as part of a new era for movies on television, the film was pulled by NBC for being too violent. With the film also featuring a murder by sniper scene, the recent assassination of John F. Kennedy by sniper ensured The Killers was temporarily on unsafe ground. With Ronald Reagan making his last appearance on film before moving into politics, unusually playing a villain no less, the 64 version of The Killers has a bit of history. It's a film about double-crossing, murder and fateful yearnings, featuring amoral characters in a wonderfully constructed story that is told in flashbacks! Photographed in bright, almost garish, colours, it's very much the polar opposite to Siodmak's version, well visually at least, but it is very effective and striking, almost enhancing the lurid nature of Coon's screenplay. It's an aggressive film where the violence packs a punch, and the ending has a considerable black heart. The cast are mostly effective. Marvin and Gulager's hit-man pairing are deliberately off kilter in terms of personality, and it's these two that propel the movie forward (well backwards really). Cassavetes makes interesting work as live wire dupe Johnny, Akins does good as a pal watching on helplessly as Johnny loses his life footings and Dickinson sizzles as she fatalises the femme. Weak link is Reagan, who looks ill at ease playing a tough villain type. It's no surprise to learn later on down the line that he wasn't very fond of the role. Good quality neo-noir crafted by a man who knew how to do the real deal back in the day. 7.5/10

Recommendation Movies

6.6
Drama
View
6.6
The Masque of the Red Death
The Masque of the Red Death1964
7
Comedy
View
7
Kiss Me, Stupid
Kiss Me, Stupid1964
6.4
Horror
View
6.4
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors1965
7.1
Crime
View
7.1
Kansas City Confidential
Kansas City Confidential1952
7.3
Comedy
View
7.3
Pocketful of Miracles
Pocketful of Miracles1961
6
Drama
View
6
The Lady Gambles
The Lady Gambles1949
5
Drama
View
5
Virgin Island
Virgin Island1959
4.6
Drama
View
4.6
Cargo
Cargo2006
6.7
Drama
View
6.7
Anatahan
Anatahan1953
5.7
Crime
View
5.7
Machine-Gun Kelly
Machine-Gun Kelly1958
7.1
Drama
View
7.1
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy2021
6.8
Drama
View
6.8
Oedipus Rex
Oedipus Rex1967
6.4
Comedy
View
6.4
Visitor Q
Visitor Q2001
7.5
Thriller
View
7.5
Gattaca
Gattaca1997
7
Action
View
7
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat2021
8.2
Drama
View
8.2
The Prestige
The Prestige2006
6.9
Comedy
View
6.9
Barbie
Barbie2023
6.1
Horror
View
6.1
Two Evil Eyes
Two Evil Eyes1990
8.2
Action
View
8.2
Gladiator
Gladiator2000
7.2
Horror
View
7.2
Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus2024
© 2025 MoovieTime. All rights reserved.Made with Nuxt