Kiss of Death (1947 film)
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| Kiss of Death | |
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| Directed by | Henry Hathaway |
| Produced by | Fred Kohlmar |
| Written by | Ben Hecht Charles Lederer Eleazar Lipsky (story) |
| Starring | Victor Mature Brian Donlevy Coleen Gray Richard Widmark Karl Malden |
| Music by | David Buttolph |
| Cinematography | Norbert Brodine |
| Editing by | J. Watson Webb Jr. |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | August 27, 1947 |
| Running time | 98 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Kiss of Death is a 1947 film noir movie written by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer from a story by Eleazar Lipsky. It was directed by Henry Hathaway. It stars Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Coleen Gray and Richard Widmark.
Nick Bianco (Mature) is a small-time thief who gets caught in a jewelery theft. He refuses to inform on his confederates, since they pledge to take care of Nick's wife and family. But when he finds out that his wife has committed suicide, Nick decides to inform. Once he gets out of jail, he is stalked by one of his confederates, the psychopathic Tommy Udo (Widmark).
Kiss of Death was Widmark's first movie, and it made him a star. The scene in which he giggles as he pushes a wheelchair bound old woman down a flight of stairs is memorable. In the book A Panorama of American Film Noir: 1941-1953, writers Raymond Borde and Etienne Chaumeton note:
"From Henry Hathaway's Kiss of Death (1947), one will remember that nasty little creep with the wild eyes and high-pitched laugh, neurotic to the core, which Richard Widmark has turned into one of his finest roles."
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[edit] Awards
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Richard Widmark) and Best Writing, Original Story (Eleazar Lipsky).
[edit] Remakes
Kiss of Death was remade in 1958 as The Fiend Who Walked the West and in 1994 with its original title.
[edit] Trivia
Kiss of Death is mentioned in Stephen King's serial novel The Green Mile. It sets off a panic attack in the main character, Paul Edgecombe, after Widmark's character eerily resembles one of Edgecombe's more violent death row inmates.
[edit] Memorable quote
Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark): You know what I do to squealers? I let 'em have it in the belly, so they can roll around for a long time thinkin' it over. You're worse than him, tellin' me he's comin' back? Ya lyin' old hag!
[edit] References
- A Panorama of American Film Noir: 1941-1953 by Raymond Borde and Etienne Chaumeton
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