Rating: 
Summary: First rate Film Noir
Review: The Killers from 1946, Burt Lancaster's debut movie, is fantastic. It is one of the finest in the noir genre. Ava Gardner is a truly devilish femme fetale. The plot is full of twists and turns. The film begins with the ending so to speak, like Sunset Boulevard. The mise-en-scene is stylish and dark. I highly recommend this film for fans of film noir. The DVD is an excellent print. It is sharp and the soundtrack is well restored. The "remake" for TV (1964) starring Lee Marvin and co-starring Ronald Reagan (as a heavy no less) is included. It bears little resemblence to the original. The film focuses on the killers this time, rather than an insurance detective. The killers are a preview of the kind of characters we would see thirty years later in Pulp Fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Two great films. One is Ronald Reagan's last.
Review: This 3 film double disc set is another great release by the Criterion Collection.
The set contains 3 film versions of "The Killers" all based on a short story by Ernest Hemmingway.
The first film was relaesed in 1946 and stars Burt Lancaster. A man known as "The Swede" is killed and the people in the area try to find out why. Much of the film is of flashback sequences involving the deceased and the events leading up to his murder. i don't want to say too much about the film as I don't like giving spoilers unless asked to.
The second film was made in 1958 by the famous Russian director, Andrei Tarkovsky. This was his first film which he made while a student at the film academy. It is a short film but is still good.
The third, made in 1964 is much more loosely based on the story but has an all-star cast including Ronald Reagan's last film and his only role as a villian. Lee Marvin, John Cassavetes and, Clu Gulager are also in the film. It has some great acting by all four of them, and the screenplay was written by Gene Coon, best known for producign and writing stories for many episodes of the Original Star Trek series. It was originally slated to be the first made for TV movie, but was shown in theaters instead because of the violence.
Each film is worth watching and has some great scenes.
The Criterion Collection set includes some fine extra features also.
Disc 1 contains the first two verisons of the film, plus the following:
The original Hemmingway short tory read by actor Stacy Keach.
an optional music and sound effects only audio track.
a Paul Schrader's essay about the film noir genre
a video interview with screenwriter Stuart M. Kaminsky
The 1949 Screen Director's Playhouse radio broadcast of a drama based on the story
Actor biographies
Trailers for several of the director's films
and a slide show of production, behind the scenes, and publicity photos pluse a facsimilie of the press book.
Disc 2 constains the 1964 version plus the following:
Actor biographies
a visual fascsimile of correspondence between the filmmakers and the TV censors
behind the scenes photos
theactical trailers
scenes from a flilm about the prodiciton of the release
a video interview with actor Clu Gulager.
this is a fine set to buy for persons who are fans of Hemmingway or Reagan. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: More than you waited for!
Review: This is a "must" for all the cinema students out there. The 1946 picture is excellent. The mood and atmosphere is amazing. And the black and white cinematography so beautiful. The 1964 version is incredible. So different. It is not a remake. Only survive the original idea. Marvin, Dickinson and Cassavettes are terrific. I f you read the notes on Siegel production you can understand everything about both movies. And there is a big surprise in the Criterion edition: "The Killers", the movie by Andrei Tarkovsky. His first movie, a short filmed in his student days. Brilliant.
Rating:
Summary: Debunking " The Killers"
Review: This is a superb double CD set that has many features we have all been waiting for. Hal Wallis spotted Burt Lancaster and put him under contract and as happens so often after a brief stint in "Sound Of Hunting"
Lancaster was around for his breakthrough role. With Mark Hellinger and Bob Siodmak at the controls we have a REAL classic noir/crime film..The supporting cast is terrific especially Ava Gardner in her first real acting role, pros like Albert Dekker and Jeff Corey ( Blinky Franklin ..what a name for a guy who has the monkey on his back), Charleston, Dum Dum..and Sam Levene and Ed O'Brien add to the suspense.. The DVD allows us to look further into the film as never before..Miklos Rosza's great score..to be used later by Jack Webb, how Hemmingways'piece was expanded..and nice bios..on many of the actors... 1964 " The Killers" illuminates how A SUPERB film maker , Don Siegal reworks the story for the 1964 audience..updates the people involved with a fine supporting cast..Lee Marvin and Clu Gulager are amusing and deadly..John Cassavetes plays the Ole Anderson role and also a fine turn by veteran Claude Akins. Clu Gulager's sons produce a really fine monologue by their father..he is introspective..has some wonderful anecdotes on Lee Marvin and Don Siegal..and shares some nice memories about the making of the film " The Killers" This is one of the best pieces I have ever seen on DVD! A Double Dynamite of a DVD package that is very illustrative of the 20 years difference between and how things change yet remain the same.. CP
Rating:
Summary: Edmond O'Brien must find clues to who killed Burt Lancaster.
Review: This review is on the 1946 version of The Killers (1946). The copy I rented did not contain the other version. Two killers, Al (Charles McGraw) and Max (William Conrad) are in a diner giving orders to the diner manager (Harry Hayden) of Henry's Diner and telling the customer to move to the other side of the counter. The black cook is tied up in the back too. They are waiting for "Swede" (Burt Lancaster in his film debut). Finally, the manager convinces them that Swede would not be in at all if it's after 6:00pm. They were going to kill Swede during his dinner at the diner. Nick (Phil Brown) runs to Swede's apartment. Swede is laying there on his bed in the dark. Nick tells him someone is out to get him. As soon as Nick leaves, the killers walk upstairs, open the door, and kill Swede. Now it's a case for Edmond O'Brien (D.O.A [1950]) to solve and what wrong thing did Swede do only once. "Sam" is played by Sam Levene who you may have seen in After The Thin Man (1936), Act One (1963). Virginia Christine is "Lily". You remember her as "Mrs. Olson" in the Folgers Coffee commercials.
Rating:
Summary: Edmond O'Brien must find clues to who killed Burt Lancaster.
Review: This review is on the 1946 version of The Killers (1946). The copy I rented did not contain the other version. Two killers, Al (Charles McGraw) and Max (William Conrad) are in a diner giving orders to the diner manager (Harry Hayden) of Henry's Diner and telling the customer to move to the other side of the counter. The black cook is tied up in the back too. They are waiting for "Swede" (Burt Lancaster in his film debut). Finally, the manager convinces them that Swede would not be in at all if it's after 6:00pm. They were going to kill Swede during his dinner at the diner. Nick (Phil Brown) runs to Swede's apartment. Swede is laying there on his bed in the dark. Nick tells him someone is out to get him. As soon as Nick leaves, the killers walk upstairs, open the door, and kill Swede. Now it's a case for Edmond O'Brien (D.O.A [1950]) to solve and what wrong thing did Swede do only once. "Sam" is played by Sam Levene who you may have seen in After The Thin Man (1936), Act One (1963). Virginia Christine is "Lily". You remember her as "Mrs. Olson" in the Folgers Coffee commercials.
Rating:
Summary: A Must have for any collector of classic entertainment.
Review: What more can I add to the reviews below? The Clu Gulager interview is absolutely fantastic. He reveals some very interesting facts regarding the filming and makes strong positive comments about his co-stars and the director. The Stacy Keach reading is also excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Gritty film noir at its best!
Review: Why would a man, who knows he's about to die, not care enough to save himself when he has the chance? This question lies at the centre of Ernest Hemingway's short story, "The Killers." It would be a question that would inspire three filmmakers to create their own cinematic adaptations of Hemingway's tale. The folks at Criterion have collected all three versions of The Killers and presented them in a comprehensive two-DVD set. The first DVD, with the 1946 version, features an impressive introduction into the film noir genre. Author and screenwriter, Stuart Kaminsky is interviewed at length about the origins of film noir and the similarities and differences between the 1946 and 1964 versions and how they compare to Hemingway's original short story. In an amazing bit of cinematic archaeology, Criterion found Russian filmmaker, Andrei Tarkovsky's take on The Killers. It's very minimalist in style and set design but is quite faithful to Hemingway's story. Another highlight on this disc is writer-director, Paul Schrader's seminal essay, "Notes on Film Noir." Schrader outlines and defines the characteristics of film noir and puts it into a historical context. The second disc, with the 1964 version, doesn't feature as many extras but does present a fascinating look at how Siegel's film evolved from a made-for-TV movie to a theatrical release. Some of the highlights include a hilarious memo from NBC's Broadcast Standards Department as they outline all the objectionable material they found in the screenplay. It becomes readily apparent that Siegel ignored all their suggestions and kept in all the offending material! For fans of film noir this is an essential purchase as these two films are given the deluxe Criterion treatment. The prints of both films have been lovingly re-mastered and have never looked better. The wealth of extras entertain and educate, making this set an excellent primer for anyone interested in learning more about film noir.
Rating:
Summary: Gritty film noir at its best!
Review: Why would a man, who knows he's about to die, not care enough to save himself when he has the chance? This question lies at the centre of Ernest Hemingway's short story, "The Killers." It would be a question that would inspire three filmmakers to create their own cinematic adaptations of Hemingway's tale. The folks at Criterion have collected all three versions of The Killers and presented them in a comprehensive two-DVD set. The first DVD, with the 1946 version, features an impressive introduction into the film noir genre. Author and screenwriter, Stuart Kaminsky is interviewed at length about the origins of film noir and the similarities and differences between the 1946 and 1964 versions and how they compare to Hemingway's original short story. In an amazing bit of cinematic archaeology, Criterion found Russian filmmaker, Andrei Tarkovsky's take on The Killers. It's very minimalist in style and set design but is quite faithful to Hemingway's story. Another highlight on this disc is writer-director, Paul Schrader's seminal essay, "Notes on Film Noir." Schrader outlines and defines the characteristics of film noir and puts it into a historical context. The second disc, with the 1964 version, doesn't feature as many extras but does present a fascinating look at how Siegel's film evolved from a made-for-TV movie to a theatrical release. Some of the highlights include a hilarious memo from NBC's Broadcast Standards Department as they outline all the objectionable material they found in the screenplay. It becomes readily apparent that Siegel ignored all their suggestions and kept in all the offending material! For fans of film noir this is an essential purchase as these two films are given the deluxe Criterion treatment. The prints of both films have been lovingly re-mastered and have never looked better. The wealth of extras entertain and educate, making this set an excellent primer for anyone interested in learning more about film noir.
Rating:
Summary: reagan at his best
Review: Without a doubt this is one of the best produced DVD,s made yet. The extras are just right,no unnecessary items added just to make room. I do think that Siodmak,s 1946 version is a masterpiece and I find myself viewing it at least three times a month!!. As for the 1964 version,it is good but not great,certainly controversial for its time and Reagan wasnt, bad in it either. How about Tay Garnett,s POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE on DVD?,that would make my day!
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