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Factory Of Masterpieces: Kubrick

THE KILLING

• Director: Stanley Kubrick
• USA / 1956 / DCP / B&W / 85’ / English; Turkish s.t.

• Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick, Jim Thompson
• Original Work: “Clean Break”, Lionel White
• Director of Photography: Lucien Ballard
• Editing: Betty Steinberg
• Music: Gerald Fried
• Cast: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards, Jay C. Flippen
• Producer: James B. Harris
• Production Co.: MGM
• World Sales: Park Circus

Taken as a starting point when talking about Kubrick’s classics, The Killing is the director’s second attempt at film noir. But this time he is working with a “Hollywood budget”. Co-adapted with noted crime writer Jim Thompson from Lionel White’s book Clean Break, the film is about the attempt of a recently released convict who gathers a team for “one last job”. Kubrick not only masterfully builds the black & white visual world of the genre that is ripe with dread and impending doom (courtesy of cinematographer Lucien Ballard), but also creates a very effective plot structure by jumping back and forward through time. The cast lead by Sterling Hayden features many familiar faces.

Images courtesy of Park Circus/MGM Studios

This film was a Meetings on the Bridge participant.