Review of The Big Knife (1955) by Monsieur R — 06 Nov 2010

Jack Palance is just awesome in this role of an actor forced to decide between crap movies and supporting his well off celebrity life. This film should be viewed by any drama lover interested in fifties Hollywood. Black and white.

Hollywood superstar Charlie Castle (Palance) has it all except a way out. When he tries to leave show business, his tyrannical studio boss Stanley Hoff (Steiger) blackmails him with a lethal, covered-up secret that could land him in jail.

A loose-lipped starlet (Winters) also knows too much, and when she starts talking, Hoff plans murder. Now Charlie is more cornered than everon the brink of losing his wealth, his power and his soul.

Cast.

Jack Palance.

Ida Lupino.

Ilka Chase.

Wendell Corey.

Jean Hagen.

Rod Steiger.

Shelley Winters.

Crew.

Director: Robert Aldrich.

Producer: Robert Aldrich.

Composer: Frank De Vol.

Cinematographer: Ernest Laszlo.

Editor: Michael Luciano.

Screenplay: James Poe.

Story Adapted by: James Poe.

Based on a Work by: Clifford Odet.

Sensitive Palance (for a change) wants to do the right thing by his estranged wife and everyone else, but he gets no honest support by his agent or anyone else.

A tragic story.