Review of A Kiss Before Dying (1991) by Lanning : — 09 Jul 2006

Don't you see? Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. I have no idea if these lines occur in this 1991 remake of the original 1956 classic. This one, I've not seen, though Sean Young is a favorite of mine.

I'm actually writing about the 1956 original here, since it is not in the flixster database. With those fateful lines cited above, the wheel turns on Robert Wagner, an absolutely cold-blooded killer whose conscience was apparently left behind in his crib along with his diapers and any love for his mother.

Wagner, I believe, has never received his due recognition as an actor. I believe he has suffered due to his groundbreaking, in terms of big screen actors, move to TV. Let me tell you flixster friends, is you've not seen the original, you have missed Wagner's brilliant fleshing out of one of the nastiest dudes in flim history.

I'm actually surprised that this excellent work did not get him permanently stuck in villain roles. I'll guess that he escaped stereotyping thanks to a Hollywood saavy and to the help of both a good agent and of a wonderful woman who would shortly after this time become a great wife :).