Kiss of Death

( 1 )

Overview

Based in part on a true story, Kiss of Death is given a veneer of reality by being filmed on location in New York, per the insistence of director Henry Hathaway..Victor Mature plays Nick Bianco, a cheap crook who commits a Christmastime jewelry store heist with his gang, and manages to get the rap while the others slip by the police unnoticed. Nick refuses to testify on the others, and gets sent up the river for 20 years for robbery. Before he goes to prison, he's assured by the criminal element that his wife and...
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DVD (Subtitled / Pan & Scan / Dubbed)
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More About This Product

Overview

Based in part on a true story, Kiss of Death is given a veneer of reality by being filmed on location in New York, per the insistence of director Henry Hathaway..Victor Mature plays Nick Bianco, a cheap crook who commits a Christmastime jewelry store heist with his gang, and manages to get the rap while the others slip by the police unnoticed. Nick refuses to testify on the others, and gets sent up the river for 20 years for robbery. Before he goes to prison, he's assured by the criminal element that his wife and children will be taken care of while he's behind bars thanks in no small part to his refusal to testify, but this is a blatant lie: during his incarceration, he learns that the family has gone broke, his wife committed suicide and his children have been sent to an orphanage. Furious, Nick summons district attorney Louie d'Angelo Brian Donlevy and makes an unusual deal: parole, in exchange for his willingness to squeal on the others. Louie expresses particularly strong interest in nabbing sadistic mob torpedo Tommy Udo Richard Widmark, in his chilling screen debut, and helps secure Nick's release with the understanding that Nick will ingratiate himself with Tommy. This he does, spending inordinate amounts of time with the psychopath and earning the man's trust. Meanwhile, Nick also falls in love with Nettie Colleen Gray, marries her, and regains custody of his two young daughters. The family moves to a small house together with Nick living under an assumed name, but Louie realizes that his cover will soon be blown. To make matters even more complicated, Louie soon comes calling and pressures Nick into testifying against Tommy. Nick hesitates, given his concern that Tommy will come after him as soon as police surveillance lifts. Moreover, Tommy has a few nasty tricks of his own, however, and vows to make life as difficult as possible for Nick. This is the film in which Widmark's character gigglingly pushes a wheelchair-bound old lady down a flight of stairs. Reviewer James Agee said it best: "You feel that murder is the kindest thing he is capable of." The film made Widmark a star--and also convinced him to start lobbying immediately for good-guy roles so that he wouldn't be typecast as maniacal killers for life. Kiss of Death was remade as the 1958 western The Fiend Who Walked the West, then re-remade under its original title in 1994, with David Caruso in the Mature role and Nicolas Cage in the Widmark part, and the violence and nudity dramatically elevated to conform with the times.
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Special Features

Closed Caption; Commentary by film historians James Ursini & Alain Silver; Still gallery; Theatrical trailer
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide
The 1947 version of Kiss of Death is best remembered for Richard Widmark's screen debut as a sadistic, tittering killer, but the film holds up well on its own as an example of film noir. It also features one of Victor Mature's best performances. Mature was traditionally considered more of a sex symbol than an actor, but his role in Kiss of Death backed up his fine work the year before as Doc Holliday in John Ford's My Darling Clementine. The typical but compelling noir plot -- based on the Oscar-nominated story by Eleazar Lipsky -- is given an impressive dose of realism courtesy of the on-location shoot in New York City, which differentiated the film from the stylized studio claustrophobia of most noirs, while maintaining the genre's trademark tension and suspense. Widmark, who would be remembered throughout his career for his role as the wonderfully named Tommy Udo, deserved the plaudits he received, including his only Academy Award nomination. Kiss of Death was remade as the Western The Fiend Who Walked the West in 1958 and again in 1995 with the original title, directed by Barbet Schroeder and starring David Caruso and Nicolas Cage.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 12/6/2005
  • UPC: 024543183532
  • Original Release: 1947

    • Rating:

  • Source: 20th Century Fox
  • Region Code: 1
  • Presentation: Subtitled / Pan & Scan / Dubbed
  • Time: 1:39:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 10,433

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Victor Mature Nick Bianco
Brian Donlevy Louie D'Angelo
Coleen Gray Nettie
Richard Widmark Tommy Udo
Karl Malden Sgt. William Cullen
Taylor Holmes Earl Howser
Mildred Dunnock Ma Rizzo
Howard I. Smith Warden
Anthony Ross Williams
Millard Mitchell Max Schulte
Temple Texas Blondie
Jack Smart Skeets
Robert Adler Detective
Nina Borget Cashier
Alexander Campbell Train Conductor
Harry Carter Detective
Dort Clark Man in Car
Dave Fresco Waiter
Harold Gary Doorman
Don Giovanni Gangster
Anne Grey
Herbert Holcombe City Jail Guard
Robert Karnes Hoodlum
Robert Keith Judge
John Kullers Prisoner
Perc Launders Lieutenant
Pat Malone Policeman
Iris Mann Congetta
John Marley Al
Gregg Martell Guard
Charles McClelland Detective
Norman McKay Capt. Dolan
Carl Milletaire Customer
Billy O'Leary Policeman
Wendell Phillips Pep Magone
Steve Roberts Guard
Mel Ruick Moremann's Assistant
Jack Rutherford Policeman
Bernie Sell
Irene Shirley Nun
George Smith Policeman
George Smith Policeman
Richard Taber Taxi Driver
Victor Thorley Sing Sing Guard
Tito Vuolo Luigi
Jesse White Taxi Driver
William Zuckert Sing Sing Guard
Technical Credits
Henry Hathaway Director
Ben Hecht Screenwriter
Norbert F. Brodin Cinematographer
David Buttolph Score Composer
W.D. Flick Sound/Sound Designer
Leland Fuller Art Director
Roger Heman Sound/Sound Designer
Fred Kohlmar Producer
Charles Lederer Screenwriter
Charles LeMaire Costumes/Costume Designer
Eleazar Lipsky Original Story
Thomas K. Little Set Decoration/Design
Lionel Newman Musical Direction/Supervision
Ben Nye Sr. Makeup
Fred Sersen Special Effects
J. Watson Webb Jr. Editor
Lyle Wheeler Art Director
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Kiss of Death
1. Main Titles [1:31]
2. Christmas Shopping [5:39]
3. Family Values [6:30]
4. Cellmates [3:43]
5. Widowed [3:58]
6. Welcome Visitor [5:15]
7. Cashing In the Policy [8:08]
8. The Children [3:43]
9. Attorney at Work [3:51]
10. Squealor [5:12]
11. Out [3:52]
12. Just Having Fun [7:30]
13. Happy at Last [4:03]
14. The Bubble Bursts [4:03]
15. The Long Wait [6:06]
16. Vacation [2:46]
17. For Protection [6:03]
18. Playing Offense [5:04]
19. How's the Family? [6:45]
20. The Takedown [5:00]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Kiss of Death
   Play
   Language Selection
      Language and Audio: English Mono
      Language and Audio: English Stereo
      Language and Audio: Spanish Mono
      Commentary by Film Noir Historians Alain Silver and James Ursini
      Subtitles: English
      Subtitles: Spanish
      Subtitles: None
   Scene Selection
   Special Features
      Commentary by Film Noir Historians Alain Silver and James Ursini: On
      Commentary by Film Noir Historians Alain Silver and James Ursini: Off
      Theatrical Trailer
      Still Gallery
         Continue
      Fox Noir
         Call Northside 777
         House of Bamboo
         Laura
         Panic in th Streets
         The Street With No Name
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Customer Reviews

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