Praising "The Killers"

For his first independent production, Mark Hellinger paid $36,750 for the movie rights to The Killers, a short story written by Ernest Hemingway in 1927. The story is about two hit men who visit a local diner one night, searching for an ex-boxer aka "the Swede" whom they've been hired to kill. Nick Adams (generally regarded as Hemingway's alter ego) is in the diner and goes to the Swede to warn him, but the latter waits passively for the hit men to come and kill him. The whole plot of Hemingway's short story takes place in the opening sequence of the film — the first 15 minutes being a fairly faithful adaptation of the Hemingway story — while the rest of the film is original, explaining in flashbacks why the Swede was killed. Hellinger hired Anthony Veiller, John Huston and Richard Brooks to write the screenplay, the latter two giving uncredited contributions. (For the full plot, go here.) 

(Left to right) Robert Siodmak, Burt Lancaster and Mark Hellinger are discussing the script of The Killers while office secretary Lois Regan is making notes on her typewriter.

To direct The Killers (1946), Mark Hellinger chose Robert Siodmak who had just scored a big hit with The Spiral Staircase (1946). Unable to get Wayne Morris for the part of the Swede (Warner Bros. refused to loan him out) Hellinger cast newcomer Burt Lancaster, while Ava Gardner was given the role of the femme fatale Kitty Collins. Other important roles went to Edmond O'Brien (insurance investigator Jim Reardon), Sam Levene (Lt. Sam Lubinsky), Albert Dekker (Big Jim Colfax) and William Conrad and Charles McGraw as the Killers. Director Siodmak got great performances from his actors, in particular from Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner, the latter delivering some of her best work in that final scene. (Ava herself later said: "Siodmak helped me with my toughest scene, the one at the end.... [He] made me play that scene so many times that I truly became hysterical and gave a more convincing performance than I thought I had in me".)

The first-rate musical score of The Killers was composed by Miklós Rózsa while Elwood "Woody" Bredell was responsible for the cinematography. Bredell deserves a special mention here as his black-and-white photography is simply stunning (see images below).

Reception of The Killers was overwhelmingly positive. The film was a huge box-office hit, at its opening in New York in August 1946 even breaking previous records. Reviews in general were raving and Hemingway himself also liked the adaptation of his story. Quite unusual for a film noir, The Killers received four Oscar nominations (i.e. for Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Screenplay and Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture), losing in each category to that year's big winner The Best Years Of Our Lives. 

Seen below are two letters written to producer Mark Hellinger, praising him for The Killers. The first letter comes from Bette Davis who saw the film in a small movie theatre several months after its release. Next is a letter from Ronald Colman who was lent a print of the film for viewing, after which he wrote to Hellinger to thank and compliment him. 

Note: Mark Hellinger would make a few more films (including Brute Force (1947)) before he died of a heart attack in December 1947, only 44 years old. His last production The Naked City (1948) was released after his death.

Mark Hellinger with Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner who both became overnight stars after their roles in The Killers. 

Source: Heritage Auctions

Transcript:

Dear Mark,

In a tiny theatre in Whitefield New Hampshire last evening I saw "The Killers" —

It is wonderful- wonderful enough to sit down today and have to tell you —

your cast- your director —

your cameraman- the whole presentation-

really enthralling and exciting-

and the kind of use the motion picture should be put to oftener —

Many congratulations!!!

Bette Davis

January 27, 1947

Ronald Colman and Bette Davis (the letter writers for this post) photographed together in the 1940s.

Source: Heritage Auctions

Transcript:

1003, Summit Drive,

Beverly Hills, Calif.

September 27th, 1946.

Dear Mark Hellinger:

It was very kind of you to allow us run your picture THE KILLERS the other night.

This, however, is not only to thank you, but to say it is one of the finest pictures I have seen in a very long time — superbly produced and directed. The few friends who saw it with us were equally and superlatively enthusiastic.

Many thanks again, and best wishes,

(handwritten)

yours

Ronald Colman 


THIS POST IS MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE NOIRATHON HOSTED BY MADDY LOVES HER CLASSIC FILMS. TO READ ALL THE OTHER ENTRIES, GO HERE.