The Killers (1964 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Killers | |
|---|---|
 The Killers movie poster | |
| Directed by | Donald Siegel |
| Produced by | Don Siegel |
| Written by | Ernest Hemingway (story) Gene L. Coon |
| Starring | Lee Marvin Angie Dickinson John Cassavetes Ronald Reagan |
| Music by | John Williams |
| Cinematography | Richard L. Rawlings |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 7, 1964 (U.S. release) |
| Running time | 93 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Killers, sometimes called Ernest Hemingway's The Killers, released by Universal Studios in 1964, was Hollywood's second adaptation of the Hemingway short story. Don Siegel directed, and Lee Marvin starred. It is also notable for being Ronald Reagan's last film.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Charlie (Marvin) and Lee (Clu Gulager) are well-dressed, professional hitmen hired to kill ex-race car driver Johnny North (John Cassavetes) — now working as a teacher at a school for the blind. Despite being warned in advance, North does nothing and allows the two men to kill him. Afterwards, Charlie, the older and more experienced of the duo, is bothered by the job. He and Lee decide to track down the people that knew North and find out why their victim didn’t run when he had the chance. This includes his mechanic and best friend Earl Sylvester (Claude Akins) and his lover Sheila Farr (Angie Dickinson).
The two killers piece together North's story. He fell in love with Sheila who convinced him to be the getaway driver for an armored car heist masterminded by her boyfriend Jack Browning (Reagan). The job goes wrong when Browning, finding out that what North did, decides to double cross the driver and eventually hire Charlie and Lee to kill him.
[edit] Interesting facts
- The 1964 Killers was the first movie ever to be "made for TV", but NBC judged it too violent to broadcast, and Universal released the movie in theaters instead.
- Don Siegel had been hired, then replaced, as director of the 1946 film noir adaptation of the same story (see The Killers (1946 film)).
- During filming, according to the DVD commentary, leading lady Angie Dickinson received the news that her friend (and rumored romantic partner) President John F. Kennedy had been shot and killed.
- This was Ronald Reagan's last acting role before entering politics, and the only bad-guy role in his career. According to Kirk Douglas' autobiography The Ragman's Son, Reagan hated the movie because of a scene in which he slaps Dickinson. Reagan thought the film would hurt his political career.
- Actress Virginia Christine had also been in the 1946 version.
- Both Steve McQueen and George Peppard were both considered for the Johnny North role.
[edit] Awards
Marvin received the 1965 BAFTA Award for Best Actor for this role as well as his role in Cat Ballou.
[edit] Cast
- Lee Marvin .... Charlie Strom
- Angie Dickinson .... Sheila Farr
- John Cassavetes .... Johnny North
- Ronald Reagan .... Jack Browning
- Clu Gulager .... Lee
- Claude Akins .... Earl Sylvester
- Norman Fell .... Mickey Farmer
- Virginia Christine .... Miss Watson
