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The Killers

Play trailer Poster for The Killers 1946 1h 45m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Two hit men walk into a diner asking for a man called "the Swede" (Burt Lancaster). When the killers find the Swede, he's expecting them and doesn't put up a fight. Since the Swede had a life insurance policy, an investigator (Edmond O'Brien), on a hunch, decides to look into the murder. As the Swede's past is laid bare, it comes to light that he was in love with a beautiful woman (Ava Gardner) who may have lured him into pulling off a bank robbery overseen by another man (Albert Dekker).
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The Killers

Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) 12/04/2014
4/5
It's [got] a blistering opening sequence. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety 04/08/2008
Taken from Ernest Hemingway's story of the same title, picture is a hard-hitting example of forthright melodrama in the best Hemingway style. Performances without exception are top quality. Go to Full Review
Xan Brooks Guardian 04/08/2008
4/5
A near-classic of 40s film noir. Go to Full Review
Tony Sloman Radio Times 08/08/2024
5/5
This is one of the most powerful and influential thrillers ever made, with director Robert Siodmak's lovingly bleak and pessimistic tone virtually defining the term film noir. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 03/04/2023
[T]he web of deceit and double crosses of the story and expertly-constructed screenplay by Anthony Veiller works thanks to the atmosphere of doom and duplicity created by Siodmak and his crew, and to the defining presence of Lancaster and Gardner. Go to Full Review
Eric Melin Scene-Stealers.com 10/07/2015
3.5/4
The movie darts around in time, constantly surprising and adding more depth to the character of The Swede. It's a psychological exploration of a man who was so worn down by life that he merely gave up. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Dani G Jul 15 All the typical elements of a film noir. Some kind of predictable for this current times See more Kyle M Jul 5 Though agreeably remarked as the “Citizen Kane” of film noir, only on the structural basis with a lesser observative impact at the minimal impression, showing evident strains in expanding a short story whilst relying on unfolding towards the obvious core. The narrative’s decently engaging bolstered by sharp performative executions you’d expect from the earnest situational matter. (B) See more Claudio C Apr 14 The Killers (1946) The Double-Crossers and The Killers (11,578 – 31 Mar 2025 – by Claudio Carvalho) In Brentwood, New Jersey, the hitmen Al (Charles McGraw) and Max (William Conrad) arrive at a diner looking for Pete “The Swede” Lund (Burt Lancaster. He uses to have dinner at the place but has not come on this day. When they leave the diner, The Swede’s colleague Nick Adams (Phil Brown), runs to the boarding house where The Swede is lodged but he says that he committed a mistake in the past and is tired of fleeing. Then he is murdered by the killers in his room with no reaction and several shots. The Swede leaves an insurance policy of US$ 2,500 to a hotel housekeeper in Atlantic City and insurance investigator Jim Reardon (Edmond O'Brien) investigates the case. Reardon interviews The Swede’s friends and befriends his best friend, Police Lt. Sam Lubinsky (Sam Levene), who married his former girlfriend Lilly Harmon Lubinsky (Virginia Christine). He learns that The Swede’s real name was Ole Anderson, a former boxer that wounded his powerful right hand and needed to prematurely quit his career. When he meets the crime lord “Big Jim” Colfax (Albert Dekker), he falls for his girlfriend Kitty Collins (Ava Gardner) and initiates a career of crime, assuming the rob of a jewelry to protect Kitty; serving three years in prison; and participating of a heist of a payment roll, culminating in several double-crossing. Now Reardon and Lubinsky team up to find the stolen money. “The Killers” (1946) is a magnificent film-noir directed by Robert Siodmak, with an engaging story about double-crossers and killers. This film is the debut of Burt Lancaster, who performs as a down-to-luck boxer that needs to stop his career and prefers to join the crime life instead of joining the police. Ava Gardner performs the typical femme fatale in film-noir, seducing and betraying The Swede. The non-chronological screenplay discloses the story in many flashbacks originated by a simple insurance police of US$ 2,500 and culminating with the recovery of US# 254,912 from a heist. “The Killers” is certainly among the greatest film-noirs. My vote is eight. Title (Brazil): “Os Assassinos” (“The Killers”) My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/ See more Irene M 08/24/2024 Based on a (Very) short story by Ernest Hemingway, this script and movie has survived the 'test of time'. Its so well done, I'm surprised I've never heard of it before. Its quite complicated and requires your attention! See more 07/16/2024 Five Stars 'cuz Ava is SMOKIN' Hot! See more Steve D 03/29/2024 Fine but lacking any surprises. See more Read all reviews
The Killers

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Movie Info

Synopsis Two hit men walk into a diner asking for a man called "the Swede" (Burt Lancaster). When the killers find the Swede, he's expecting them and doesn't put up a fight. Since the Swede had a life insurance policy, an investigator (Edmond O'Brien), on a hunch, decides to look into the murder. As the Swede's past is laid bare, it comes to light that he was in love with a beautiful woman (Ava Gardner) who may have lured him into pulling off a bank robbery overseen by another man (Albert Dekker).
Director
Robert Siodmak
Producer
Mark Hellinger
Screenwriter
Ernest Hemingway, Anthony Veiller, Richard Brooks, John Huston
Distributor
Universal Pictures, Universal International Pictures
Production Co
Mark Hellinger Productions
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 28, 1946, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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