Born to Kill (Lady of Deceit) poster & wallpaper
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Lawrence Tierney, Claire Trevor, Walter Slezak, Phillip Terry, Audrey Long ... see more see more... , Elisha Cook Jr. , Isabel Jewell , Esther Howard , Kathryn Card , Tony Barrett , Grandon Rhodes , Demetrius Alexis , Ellen Corby , Sayre Dearing , Jean Fenwick , Lee Frederick , Ben Frommer , Martha Hyer , Perc Launders , Sam Lufkin , Beatrice Maude , Al Murphy , Netta Packer , Jason Robards Sr. , Philip Warren , Napoleon Whiting , Tommy Noonan , Sammy Shack , Ruth Brennan

Somehow the titles of the films of hardcase actor Lawrence Tierney seemed to be extensions of the man's personality, as witness such films as The Devil Thumbs a Ride and Born to Kill. In the latter pi... read more read more...cture, Tierney starts the ball rolling by committing a double murder in a jealous pique. Claire Trevor discovers the bodies, but says nothing to the police; she's leaving town and doesn't want to be impeded. Trevor and Tierney meet and fall in love on the train to San Francisco. Unfortunately, Trevor is married, so Tierney shifts his affections to her sister, Audrey Long (later the wife of director Billy Wilder). He marries Long, though he keeps up his illicit affair with Trevor. When detectives investigating the murders come snooping, they are bought off by Tierney's pal Elisha Cook Jr.--who is then murdered by Tierney, who suspects that Cook is carrying on with Trevor (Cook seldom survived to the end of any of his films). When Tierney finally does face arrest, it's at the instigation of the jealous Trevor, who is shot full of holes for her trouble. Born to Kill was based on James Gunn's novel Deadlier Than the Male. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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71% liked it

571 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Robert Wise

Release Date: January 1, 1947

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DVD Release Date: July 5, 2005

Stats: 71 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (71)

  • ajv2688
    October 24, 2010
    ajv2688
    Another good film noir, with a very interesting story of murder and romance. Good acting, good story, it's good.
  • flixsterman
    November 14, 2009
    flixsterman
    Finally, a noir film where the title actually makes sense! Classic psychopath meets girl love story. If you can find it on DVD be sure to check out the commentary from author and noir expert Eddie Muller. Muller's insight into the character and personality of Lawrence Tierney ... read moreis priceless.

    It wasn't so long ago that I couldn't even tell you who Robert Wise was. Now I find myself, like a sponge, wanting to soak up every film he ever directed. If I come across one I dislike I'll let you know.
  • rubystevens
    December 13, 2007
    rubystevens
    two ambitious psychopaths hook up and all hell breaks loose. claire trevor is awesome as the soulless manipulator who destroys everyone around her to be near laurence tierney's brutal thug
  • mjgildea
    November 19, 2007
    mjgildea
    Lawrence Tierney is superb as the overly-confident pit bull alpha dog sociopath who draws the same rotten qualities out of Claire Trevor who gives an equally jarring performance. Robert Wise's direction is also great as he directs one of the most grisly murders during the golden ... read moreage of Hollywood. Slezak is great as the private dick and Esther Howard is nothing short of grotesque as his alcoholic client.
  • kenstachnik
    November 12, 2007
    kenstachnik
    What happens when sociopaths fall in love
  • groaningbitch
    September 20, 2007
    groaningbitch
    a story enhanced by murder and deceit. and the best thing in this movie shall be claire trevor's performance as the ambitious, complicated seductress who is in eternal struggle between the crave of peace and security and the longing for strength, excitement and corruptness. natur... read moreally this ambivalence is anchored by her choices of men: the rich loyal fred and the shrewd ferocious sam(lawrence tierney). besides the warobe of miss trevor in this movie is dynamically femme fatale to delineate the iceberg women with the coldest surface and rottenest inside. one of the pleasure for the film noir aficinados is the savor of its dialogues of cynical wisecrackers which reflects the simmering irony of life. and this one shall have one of the best scripts. for example. "life is coffee, the aroma is always better than its actuality"....besides it's also the best chance to take a glance over the young lawrence tierney (one of the coolest original tough guys)whose youthful dashing looks matches his razor-sharp toughness.
  • threefolddado
    June 12, 2008
    threefolddado
    Another example of great 40's Film Noir.
  • thailurr
    September 5, 2009
    thailurr
    i love how awful the lead characters are! they're really bad people! in film noir i usually see main characters that do bad things but at their heart are very good people with the best intentions. Neither Helen Brent nor Sam Wilde ever seemed truly remorseful for the things they ... read moredid. that was very nice to me. i also like that the old woman was determined to find WHO KILLED LAUR(y) PALMER! hello twin peaks.

View All Born to Kill (Lady of Deceit) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Nick Schager
May 16, 2006
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Competent if slightly too tame for a supposedly sleazy story. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
May 1, 2006
Fernando F. Croce, Slant Magazine

The usually meek Robert Wise trades his chameleonic tastefulness for full-on, jazzy misanthropy in this nasty melodrama. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
September 9, 2005
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Hard to watch, but effective and alluring nonetheless. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
April 2, 2003
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A revolting B film noir... Full Review

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