Review of The Killing (1956) by Matthew D — 18 May 2015

Stanley Kubrick had directed two films prior to this, but he considered this his first film and it's likely my all-time favorite heist film. With a script by cult crime author Jim Thompson (though only credited with "additional dialogue," most suspect he wrote a majority of the film) the film just crackles with terse dialogue and tight direction from Kubrick.

The film centers around recently released ex-con Sterling Hayden putting together a plan to rob a race track. with the likes of Joe Sawyer, Elisha Cook Jr. and Timothy Carey. There's also Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards and Marie Windsor rounding out a solid cast of character and B-actors.

Kubrick makes every frame interesting to look at and Hayden, as always, commands the screen. My only complaint is the unnecessary voiceover, which Kubrick was reportedly made to do by the studio and had little interest in making it work.

However, besides that, the film is a flawless caper film and still deserves five stars for all it's positives.