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Kiss of Death

Released Aug 27, 1947 1h 38m Crime Drama List
89% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Offered parole from Sing Sing in exchange for information about one of his old partners in crime, jewel thief Nick Bianco (Victor Mature) reluctantly cooperates with district attorney Louis D'Angelo (Brian Donlevy), who's trying to take down violent murderer Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark). But when Udo goes free despite the district attorney's best efforts, Bianco and his wife, Nettie (Coleen Gray), are in the killer's sights, and he'll stop at nothing to settle the score.

Critics Reviews

View All (18) Critics Reviews
James Agee TIME Magazine It is ... something new and welcome in U.S. crime movies. None of its criminals is glamorous, nor does anyone piously point out that crime does not pay. Nobody has to. The whole picture amply demonstrates the fact. Feb 27, 2018 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader The film is efficient enough, but it's a measure of Hathaway's limitations that it never once fulfills the paranoid delirium built into its subject. Apr 24, 2009 Full Review Nick Schager Slant Magazine A jumbled piece of cinematic crime fiction that's visually elegant but regularly confused about its own point of view. Rated: 2/4 Dec 23, 2005 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The wheelchair sequence offers a particularly brutal moment -- even for ‘40s film noir. Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 19, 2024 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Seeing a fated protagonist continually dig himself into a deeper and deeper mess is nothing new, but Bianco's gentle-giant temperament evokes admiration and pity. Rated: 8/10 Aug 13, 2020 Full Review Nathanael Hood The Retro Set But despite being a bit rough around the edges, Kiss of Death still satisfies. Rated: 6/10 Dec 28, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (122) audience reviews
Ted B 3.5 stars This did not seem like much of a film noir to me. On the other hand, it was a pretty well-done thriller/crime drama. Victor Mature carried the acting load quite well as a convicted felon released from prison because of all the help (squealing) he did to convict his gang and others. This 'squealing' included Richard Widmark (in his debut role), who was excellent as the most evil gangster you've seen in a 1940s-era film. The Mature character had been down and depressed in prison as his wife had committed suicide and his daughters had been put in an orphanage. This depression, for the most part, drove him to cooperate with officials. He was released from prison on parole and settled down with his daughters and a new wife. So just as he has something to live for, the evil Widmark character is now tracking him down for squealing on him. He intends to do great harm to him and his family. But the mature character has a few tricks up his sleeve. This leads to an exciting conclusion, for which I will not contribute a Spoiler Alert.... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/09/24 Full Review Ashley H Kiss of Death is an okay film. It is about Nick Bianco who is caught during a botched jewelry heist. Victor Mature and Brian Donlevy give decent performances. The script is a little slow in places. Henry Hathaway did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/14/23 Full Review deke p 1947 ! Noir. COLEEN GRAY adorable!, WIDMARK as giggling evil criminal killer, MITCHUM! as 'snitcher'. BRIAN DONLEVY as good DA. Good heroic ending. BUT, these 2 kids, like most all little child actors of the 40s, 50s, 60s... terrible phoney annoying actors. Todays childrens actors much better. I'll give it 5 stars, cuz COLEEN, etc. . & critics gave it high rating too. Saw again on the TV movies channel, 7-10-22 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review william d I liked this film, although I'm not sure I would classify it as "noir." Richard Widmark makes the movie. Along with his performance in Roadhouse he definitely proved he was one of cinema's all-time great bad guys. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Kiss of Death might be a film noir movie, but it does not feel like one to me. The story is about a convicted criminal who turns police informant. He wants to live a life of normalcy with his wife and two kids. It is a good movie and all. However, it is not on my list of top favorites, even though it is entertaining to watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review paul d Henry Hathaway's Kiss of Death has a slow and steady burn, just like the protagonist played by Victor Mature. He's a serial criminal with a big heart who tried to turn straight when he became a family man. But Ben Hecht's script has him continually losing out, either through his own mistakes or his shady, unreliable associates. Mature is excellent, and the all-location shooting provides a realistic ambiance. Richard Widmark plays one of the greatest villains in all film, a cackling, psychotic killer, and actors have been copying this performance ever since. Colleen Gray is bright, positive and convincing. The supporting cast is outstanding. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Kiss of Death

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Movie Info

Synopsis Offered parole from Sing Sing in exchange for information about one of his old partners in crime, jewel thief Nick Bianco (Victor Mature) reluctantly cooperates with district attorney Louis D'Angelo (Brian Donlevy), who's trying to take down violent murderer Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark). But when Udo goes free despite the district attorney's best efforts, Bianco and his wife, Nettie (Coleen Gray), are in the killer's sights, and he'll stop at nothing to settle the score.
Director
Henry Hathaway
Producer
Fred Kohlmar
Screenwriter
Ben Hecht, Charles Lederer, Eleazar Lipsky
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 27, 1947, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 30, 2017
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm