Review of The Killing (1956) by Michael C — 05 Jul 2009

This film marks the beginning of the Kubrick's ascent to greatness (his previous efforts, Killer's Kiss and Fear and Desire, are held as mostly forgettable affairs) and though it's not one of my favorite Kubrick films, by no means does this mean the film is not an impressive piece of moviemaking.

The story of a race track heist and how it ultimately fell apart will look familiar to many as a frame upon which many modern heist films have been built (Reservoir Dogs stands out in particular as a film that definitely seemed inspired by the films style).

Though this film doesn't begin to touch on the technical mastery of Kubrick's later films, it still has some signs of his future wizardry in clear view. There is one scene where the protagonist of the film, Sterling Hayden, is walking through a series of rooms with the camera seemingly moving through the wall that is a really well-constructed tracking shot, and the tracking overall is very fluid and reminiscent of where Kubrick was going with his technique.

The performances are also strong, as the cast is made up of several figures, including one of the few actors to appear in more than one Kubrick film, Sterling Hayden (he had another role in one of my favorite films, Dr.

Strangelove, as General Jack D. Ripper). Special mention should also be given to Colleen Gray; her role her as a gorgeous woman with corruption and evil in her bones kept with the films noir feel. This is a worthy primer to the wonders of Kubrick's career and on its own a very sharp little caper film.