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Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Albert Dekker, Jeff Corey ... see more see more... , Sam Levene , William Conrad , Jack Lambert , Virginia Christine , Harry Hayden , John Miljan , Garry Owen , Scott Wallace , Queenie Smith , Bill Walker , Gabrielle Windsor , Ernie S. Adams , George Anderson , Vince Barnett , John Berkes , Charles D. Brown , Phil Brown , Jack Cheatham , Noel Cravat , Rev. Neal Dodd , Mike Pat Donovan , Howard Freeman , Michael Hale , Al Hill , Ethan Laidlaw , Perc Launders , Nolan Leary , Vera Lewis , Therese Lyon , Donald MacBride , Charles McGraw , Charles B. Middleton , Beatrice Roberts , William H. Ruhl , John Sheehan , Ann Staunton , John Trebach , Milton Wallace , Howard Negley , Wally Rose , Audley Anderson , Harry Brown

The Killers uses Ernest Hemingway's short story as a springboard for a complex film noir. Two mysterious men (William Conrad and Charles McGraw) muscle their way into a small town and kill an aging bo... read more read more...xer (Burt Lancaster, making his screen debut), who offers no resistance and seems to be welcoming his death. An insurance investigator (Edmond O'Brien) is hired to locate the beneficiary to Lancaster's policy, and in the course of his investigation reopens a long-dormant robbery case. In a series of flashbacks, O'Brien makes the connection between Lancaster and the robbery and tracks down the "brains" behind the operation. He also comes in contact with Lancaster's former girlfriend (Ava Gardner), whose duplicity played a big part in Lancaster's demise -- and his indifferent reaction to it. Siodmak's hard-edged, moody direction of the Oscar-nominated screenplay by Anthony Veiller, makes The Killers one of the definitive films noirs, including what is considered to be one of the greatest opening sequences in movie history. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Robert Siodmak

Release Date: August 28, 1946

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DVD Release Date: April 14, 1998

Stats: 278 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (278)

  • garyX
    July 28, 2011
    garyX
    When a gas pump attendant is executed by a pair of professional killers an insurance investigator starts digging to find out why. One of the quintessential benchmarks of Film Noir, The Killers is based on a short story by Ernest Hemingway and was the launch platform for the caree... read morers of both Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner. It's not often you'll see a film that kills off its hero in the first 10 minutes, but the brilliant opening scenes make sure you're hooked through til the bitter end as Noir stalwart Edmond O'Brien unravels the events leading up to the cold blooded assassination that is curiously almost welcomed by Lancaster. As the story is told in flashback, the brisk pace means that perhaps depth of character is sacrificed for economy but the heist, double crosses and allure of the stunning Gardner make sure your interest never wanes. Perhaps lacking the crackling chemistry of Bogart and Bacall or the razor blade dialogue of Chandler, it's still a gripping story involving a Femme that's not as quite as Fatale as you'd expect from Hemingway. Or maybe that's just my inner chump rationalizing for the sake of Ava's considerable charms...A classic detective story and must for Noir aficionados.
  • axadntpron
    February 25, 2011
    axadntpron
    From the opening scene, Siodmak introduces the audience to two of the best hitmen that the silver screen has to offer.. This breathtaking opening sure sets the tone for this fantastic 1946 film noir. While not as stylish and captivating as other famous Noirs such as Laura, this f... read moreilm still a classic.
    Told mostly through flashbacks, this Hemingway story translates incredibly well to celluloid. Soidmak creates an intriguing & mysterious tale of crime with a great cast of no good double crossin' back-stabbers. Gardener is great as the deceptive beauty Kitty Collins. (Is there a better name for a femme fatale?)
    This film is a great entry into the canon of great film Noirs and is worth a watch just to see Lancaster's on screen debut.
  • flixsterman
    January 15, 2011
    flixsterman
    The Killers has it all, the beautiful femme fatale (Ava Gardner), the likeable but unlucky hood (Burt Lancaster), the trench coated investigator (Edmond O'Brien) and the "fool-proof" crime that goes horribly wrong. If you liked Double Indemnity and The Asphalt J... read moreungle then this one is a must-see.
  • ajv2688
    October 21, 2010
    ajv2688
    A good film noir with a good cast.
  • bottcorecords1
    March 26, 2010
    bottcorecords1
    Based on a story by Ernest Hemingway, "The Killers" is a noir film set up much like "Citizen Kane": an insurance investigator, through a series of interviews (which lead to flashbacks for the viewer), deciphers the riddle of a gas station attendant's murder in a small town. Burt... read more Lancaster is "the Swede", an ex-boxer who meets his doom in the back room of a boarding house by the hands of a pair of hitmen. However, it's not as exciting as it sounds, even if the pistol-packing claims adjuster is one you wouldn't ever want to mess with. The first 15 minutes are a little incongruous to the rest of the story (Hemingway's story comprises only the first reel of the film), and the motivations behind the Swede's death are a little flimsy (it's always a dame that gets 'em). The film's mighty aspirations can slow down to a crawl at times, but it's still a film worthy of your time, and if you're a fan of the genre, this might be a new favorite.
  • sanjurosamurai
    February 7, 2009
    sanjurosamurai
    siodmaks version of the killers is mesmerizing. one of the best film noirs ever made, lancaster was great in his debut, ava gardner was stunning as always, and obrien turns in a typically solid performance in a noir investigative role. the first few minutes of the film basicall... read morey lays out hemingways 8 page short story with perfection, and the rest of the story created for the film was true to the spirit of hemingways work. as the plot thickens so does the intrigue, finalizing in a twisted and dark tale that satisfies completely.
  • pier007
    April 29, 2008
    pier007
    Alluring fox Ava Gardner tempts a weary Burt Lancaster in this rambling faena of betrayal, theft, jealousy and murder.
  • DrZeek
    January 30, 2008
    DrZeek
    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.

    This is a very good film noir, made very w... read moreell due to its style and the actors involved.

    Two hitmen come to town after a man known as "the Swede." After a very good setup in a diner, the hitmen find who they are looking for and kill him. Strange thing is that the Swede did not put up a fight, he saw it coming and took it.

    An insurance investigator, Edmond O'Brien, enters the scene, and after being given few details, goes to various people who knew the Swede in order to find out what really happened.

    Big Jim Colfax: If there's one thing in this world I hate, it's a double-crossing dame.

    It turns out that the Swede, played very well by Burt Lancaster, was formerly a boxer who fell on some bad luck after meeting the very lovely Ava Gardner. He ended up involving himself in a botched robbery involving some double crosses and the loss of the money.

    We learn this information through a series of flashbacks told by different characters. This works well to develop Lancaster's character and how sympathetic he becomes after knowing what led him to the point seen in the opening.

    Along with a very good story running throughout, the beginning and ending scenes of this movie are fantastic. It is also very steeped in it's noir atmosphere, providing for a very well made movie.

    Reardon: When was the last time you saw him?
    Charleston: Mister, did you say 'when?'
    Reardon: Yes.
    Charleston: Mister, when it comes to dates, 1492 is the only one I can remember.
  • groaningbitch
    September 20, 2007
    groaningbitch
    the best applauded movie adapted from hemingway's short story. (hemingway claims so.) also the crucial overnight success for burt lancaster and ava gardner. it was said that "the killers" is the film noir version of citizen kane, especially its posthumously introvert angle to tac... read morekle the lethalness of a woman who tunes the golden harps. (her weapon shall be love.) there're plot twists interwined together with the refreshing swift-paced move. lancaster gives a sympathetic portrait of a gangster romanticist who would sacrifice everything for the flaming passion. gardner's screen time is limited but impressive, a woman with the deadly charm which could take a man with one icy-cold glimpse. you can't help but captivated by her southern belle feline voice. there's also some otherworldly ethrealnss beneath her hell-cat sexy looks. perhaps most film noir pieces are demonstrating how un-worthy it is to devote your love to that she-devil. but it takes a real man or an original tough tough guy to embrace her in his bossom on the perils of becoming her tragic prey.
  • mjgildea
    April 15, 2007
    mjgildea
    Just an all around great movie. Gardner is H O T and its easy to see why Lancaster was such a chump for her. The opening is amazing and keeps it going through the end.

View All The Killers Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
April 8, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Taken from Ernest Hemingway's story of the same title, picture is a hard-hitting example of forthright melodrama in the best Hemingway style. Performances without exception are top quality. Full Review

Don Druker
April 8, 2008
Don Druker, Chicago Reader

An example of film noir at its most expressive. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

As mere movie melodrama, pieced out as a mystery which is patiently unfolded by a sleuthing insurance man, it makes a diverting picture. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
April 5, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Compelling, beautifully shot film noir, marking the stunning debut of Burt Lancaster. Full Review

Michael E. Grost
July 6, 2010
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television

Film noir with spectacularly photographed set pieces. Full Review

Urban Cinefile Critics
May 30, 2008
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile

Nominated for four Oscars, Robert Siodmak's The Killers expands on Hemingway's short story in classic film noir style, with a dense plot that ends in an unexpected double cross Full Review

April 8, 2008
Film4

The definitve screen rendition of Hemingway's story. Full Review

Philip French
April 8, 2008
Philip French, Observer [UK]

It's a classic by a supreme exponent of that genre, German emigre Robert Siodmak. Full Review

Xan Brooks
April 8, 2008
Xan Brooks, Guardian [UK]

A near-classic of 40s film noir. Full Review

Wally Hammond
February 7, 2008
Wally Hammond, Time Out

It's one of the great films of disenchantment. Full Review

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