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The Killers

  • 19641964
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
8.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Angie Dickinson and Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
Surprised that their contract victim didn't try to run away from them, two professional hit men try to find out who hired them and why.
Play trailer2:23
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery

Surprised that their contract victim didn't try to run away from them, two professional hit men try to find out who hired them and why.Surprised that their contract victim didn't try to run away from them, two professional hit men try to find out who hired them and why.Surprised that their contract victim didn't try to run away from them, two professional hit men try to find out who hired them and why.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
8.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Don Siegel
  • Writers
    • Ernest Hemingway(story)
    • Gene L. Coon(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Lee Marvin
    • Angie Dickinson
    • John Cassavetes
Top credits
  • Director
    • Don Siegel
  • Writers
    • Ernest Hemingway(story)
    • Gene L. Coon(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Lee Marvin
    • Angie Dickinson
    • John Cassavetes
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 91User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:23
    Official Trailer

    Photos139

    Angie Dickinson and Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
    Angie Dickinson and Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
    Angie Dickinson and Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
    Angie Dickinson and Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
    Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
    Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
    John Cassavetes, Angie Dickinson, and Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
    The Killers (1964)
    John Cassavetes, Angie Dickinson, and Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
    Angie Dickinson and Lee Marvin in The Killers (1964)
    The Killers (1964)
    Lee Marvin and Ronald Reagan in The Killers (1964)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lee Marvin
    Lee Marvin
    • Charlie Stromas Charlie Strom
    Angie Dickinson
    Angie Dickinson
    • Sheila Farras Sheila Farr
    John Cassavetes
    John Cassavetes
    • Johnny Northas Johnny North
    Clu Gulager
    Clu Gulager
    • Leeas Lee
    Claude Akins
    Claude Akins
    • Earl Sylvesteras Earl Sylvester
    Norman Fell
    Norman Fell
    • Mickey Farmeras Mickey Farmer
    Ronald Reagan
    Ronald Reagan
    • Jack Browningas Jack Browning
    Virginia Christine
    Virginia Christine
    • Miss Watsonas Miss Watson
    Don Haggerty
    Don Haggerty
    • Mail Truck Driveras Mail Truck Driver
    Robert Phillips
    Robert Phillips
    • George Flemingas George Fleming
    Kathleen O'Malley
    Kathleen O'Malley
    • Miss Leslieas Miss Leslie
    Ted Jacques
    • Gym Assistantas Gym Assistant
    Irvin Mosley Jr.
    • Mail Truck Guardas Mail Truck Guard
    • (as Irvin Mosley)
    Jimmy Joyce
    • Salesmanas Salesman
    Davis Roberts
    Davis Roberts
    • Maître D'as Maître D'
    Hall Brock
    • Race Marshalas Race Marshal
    Burt Mustin
    Burt Mustin
    • Elderly Manas Elderly Man
    Peter Hobbs
    Peter Hobbs
    • Instructoras Instructor
    • Director
      • Don Siegel
    • Writers
      • Ernest Hemingway(story)
      • Gene L. Coon(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A remake of The Killers (1946) which itself was inspired by the Ernest Hemingway short story. Told instead from the hitmen's point of view, the killers decide to find out why their latest victim (a race car driver) "just stood there and took it" when they came to shoot him. They also figure on collecting more money. Ronald Reagan plays a rich, double-crossing financier. Lovely Angie Dickinson plays the femme fatale. —Mark Logan <marklo@west.sun.com>
    • hitman
    • betrayal
    • based on short story
    • neo noir
    • psychotronic film
    • 74 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Explosively NEW ... In Color!
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Don Siegel, it was the policy at "Universal" at the time to shoot the last scene of the film first. On that first day of filming, according to Siegel and Clu Gulager, Lee Marvin arrived late and had been drinking, but because he had no dialogue, the scenes were used as shot.
    • Goofs
      The rear-screen projection used for the go-cart racing scene is poorly done, and the editing from the process shots to the main shots, with the change in color, brightness, and sharpness is jarring. It is the same with the driving during the race, where multiple studio lights can be seen reflected on the car and drivers' helmets.
    • Quotes

      Charlie Strom: Lady, I don't have the time.

    • Crazy credits
      The style of the film's credits reflects its original made-for-TV origins: in 1960s TV movies, Stars, Co-stars, and Featured Players were listed only in the opening credits, while supporting players were listed only in the closing credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in Biography: Angie Dickinson: Tinseltown's Classiest Broad (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Too Little Time
      Music by Henry Mancini

      Lyrics by Don Raye

      Sung by Nancy Wilson

      [Johnny and Sheila dance to the song performed at the nightclub]

    User reviews91

    Review
    Top review
    Ahead of it's time, uncompromising b-grade thriller.
    Don Siegel's 'The Killers' is a diamond in the rough! Initially filmed for television, its technical limitations are easily overlooked as they are more than compensated for by the drive of the no-nonsense narrative, and the high standards of the acting. Caught somewhere between Kubrick's 'The Killing' and Boorman's 'Point Blank', it may not be as flamboyantly impressive as either, but it is just as memorable in its own low key way.

    Quentin Tarantino has admitted that the structure of 'The Killing' has influenced him, but after watching 'The Killers', one must question whether this movie is also high on his list. Especially as the cooler-than-thou hit-men played by Lee Marvin and Clu Gulager almost anticipate Travolta and Jackson's similarly quirky ones in 'Pulp Fiction' thirty years later. Just like Vincent and Jules, Charlie and Lee are eccentric and likable when "off duty" and brutal sociopaths when on. Lee Marvin is one of Hollywood's legendary screen tough guys, and his performance here is as good as any he ever did, but the real stand out for me is Clu Gulager's health nut contract killer. He just about steals every scene he is in. Up to this point he was mainly known as a Western TV star. Why this role didn't launch him into a Bruce Dern/Harry Dean Stanton/Dick Miller style career baffles me. Instead he was mainly consigned to the "made for TV" wasteland, and never got the breaks his talent deserved.

    Marvin and Gulager's star turns are backed up by strong supporting performances from John Cassavetes, as their enigmatic "job", Angie Dickinson, a double-crossing femme fatale, and Ronald Reagan in a surprising turn as a nasty gangster. Also keep an eye out for a dialogue-free cameo by a very young looking Seymour Cassel!

    'The Killers' looks better and better as the years go by. Not without flaws, sure, and calling it a masterpiece would be overkill, but it's a movie that was ahead of it's time in many ways, and it can't help but impress discerning fans of 50s/60s b-grade crime movies, film noir, or Sam Fuller.
    helpful•40
    7
    • Infofreak
    • Nov 20, 2001

    FAQ1

    • What kind of race car did John Cassavetes character, Johnny North, drive in this movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 24, 1964 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ernest Hemingway's The Killers
    • Filming locations
      • Riverside International Raceway, 22255 Eucalyptus Avenue, Moreno Valley, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Revue Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $750,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,944
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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