Kiss of Death

source: Kiss of Death

Adapted from a story by Eleazar Lipsky, Kiss Of Death is a tough, even frightening Crime/Noir picture that has a gritty realistic feel. Helped enormously by director Henry Hathaway shooting the whole picture in New York, Kiss Of Death is also notable for being the searing debut of Richard Widmark. With no intention of soft soaping the story, the makers cunningly lure us viewers onto the seamy New York streets. Thus with the New York locations as expertly used as they are by Hathaway, Kiss Of Death attains a documentary style similar to other notable genre pictures like Call Northside 777 (also Hathaway). Narrating the picture is Nettie (Coleen Gray in her first credited role), the second wife of Nick Bianco (Victor Mature). Telling of his rough and troubled life, we learn that Bianco was part of a gang who was caught during a jewelry robbery over the Christmas holiday. Lied to by his lawyer, Bianco learns during his prison term that his first wife has killed herself and that his darling two girls have been packed off to an orphanage. Fretting and desperate to see his girls, Bianco makes a deal with Assistant District Attorney Louis D'Angelo (Brian Donlevy), where in exchange for is parole, he will rat out his old gang buddies. D'Angelo is mostly concerned with one man tho, sadistic murderer and boss, Tommy Udo (Widmark). Bianco must pal up to Udo and hope that he doesn't get found out, for if he does, Udo is sure to enact psychotic retribution on Nick and all those close to him. Mature gives one of his finest shows as the pained Bianco forced to squeal, Gray as his second wife is sedate and effective and Donlevy as the crusading Assistant D.A. with a heart is as reliable as he always is. But all are playing second fiddle to Widmark, ferocious stare, dirty laugh and an unnerving falsetto voice, it announced Widmark to the cinematic world, garnered him a contract with Twentieth Century Fox and he never looked back afterwards. Some of his scenes are just mesmerising, including one that is as shocking as it is a lesson in villainy. Taut and tight scripting from the Hecht/Lederer partnership, with rounded characters and a sensible plot, Kiss Of Death is not to be missed by the Crime/Noir genre/style fan. 8.5/10

This movie is a bore fest. There's an enormous useless sub plot with this annoying kids that just brings the entire film down. I mentally checked out once this came into play. The film became slow and laborious. I love film noir. This isnt really that. It's more of a straight drama.

Widmark will ALWAYS be remembered for his role as Tommy Udo in this film! The skinny kid with the stupid laugh & no conscience, pushing a wheel-chaired lady down a flight of stairs! He switches emotions in a heartbeat! EERIE! Victure Mature is really the star of this movie & he looks GREAT in every scene! Those crisp suits & those hats! When he has to turn informant so his now-motherless kids can have him back at home instead of in "the big house", Udo goes after him with a vengeance. The tension between these two is combustible! I LOVE this film! Brian Donlevy is very good as the D.A. "Nick Bianco" (Mature) must do business with in order to be free. It works!

**Spoilers** The person who compared his role to Joe Pesci in Goodfellas makes a good comparison. They create mean psychos we love to watch on the screen and of course would never want to run into in real life. His characters little speech about squealers, his laugh and helping the handicapped down the stairs is what most people will best remember from this film. Subtract Richard Widmarks work here and you are left with what is a dull and routine film to sit through. Many classic noirs have dated elements of their time but there is enough there to make up for it - great dialogue, memorable leading ladies like Rita Hayworth. Here the woman is dull and one-note; Nick Biancos kids make your teeth clench and make you wish Tommy Udo would actually get to have some "fun" with them like he so kindly offers his pal. Victure Mature looks much older than 29 (the age mentioned for his character) but the main problem is he never seems menacing or acts much like a crook (somebody like Sterling Hayden or Richard Conte would have been better). He is far better as a copper like in 'Cry of the City'. Overall though it's better than the 1995 remake where beefed-up Nicholas Cage like Widmark gets to steal the show.

Love film-noir and classic film, was really intrigued by the story (one of my favourite kinds of stories) and wanted to see how Richard Widmark's (an actor who specialised in playing villains and nasty characters) widely lauded film debut would fare. Will admit though to not being a big fan of Victor Mature, while not belonging in the deride camp that he tends to fall into. 'Kiss of Death' turned out to be a film that lived up to high expectations quite splendidly. Have seen some wastes of potential recently so seeing a film that doesn't in any way was a relief. Perhaps not quite exceeding them, but can totally see the appeal. Everything that 'Kiss of Death' has been especially noted for was obvious from start to finish and it is a good representation of why the genre and this kind of story appeals to me. The romantic relationship did feel rushed for my liking. Also thought that the middle act dragged occasionally. However, 'Kiss of Death' is rich in atmosphere, love the grit of the cinematography, the crispness of the editing and the authenticity of the locations. The music is used sparingly but fits well when used. Henry Hathaway directs in a way that always makes the film involving and suspenseful, not dumbing down anything and making the considered shocking content have full impact. The script is taut and intelligent, as well as free of fat. The story never stops being suspenseful and what could have been an ordinary story turns into a work that is mature, tense and suspenseful, sometimes tragic, with the wheelchair/stairs scene that unsurprisingly shocked audiences at the time still one of the most shocking and iconic acts of evil on film. Victor Mature's sympathetic performance is one of his best by a considerable degree, while Coleen Gray and Brian Donlevy (cast against type) are strong support. 'Kiss of Death' belongs though to Richard Widmark, his unforgettably frightening performance is not only one of the best film debuts ever but also one of the most evil incarnate psychopathic characters on film. Overall, very good and worth seeing especially for Widmark. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Arrested fleeing from his latest jewel holdup, Victor Mature won't talk to the DA so he takes the rap himself and goes up the river, confident the mob's lawyer will take care of his family. Tragedy soon strikes and Mature must rat out a mob hit man to get out of jail for the sake of his two children. Richard Widmark makes his film debut as the psychopathic killer on Mature's trail. The scene where he pushes an elderly, wheelchair-bound woman down a flight of stairs is just as shocking today as it was in 1947. Filmed on location in New York this gritty thriller is a must see!

Although the film stars Victor Mature and he is excellent in film noir movies, many remember the movie NOT for him but for supporting actor Widmark. His over-the-top performance as the psychotic heavy was impossible NOT to notice!! The image of Widmark tying an old lady into a wheelchair and pushing her down the stairs while laughing maniacally is unforgettable!!! In an interview I saw with Widmark many years later, he swore that the older lady in that scene ACTUALLY took the tumble--it was no dummy in the wheelchair! With this much evil, it is obvious that bad guy turned good Mature must eventually have a show down with the psycho and his evil boss. While this isn't my favorite noir film, it's certainly ONE of the best and shouldn't be missed. LOVED that psychotic laugh!!! Heee, heee, heee, heee, heee, heee!!!!!

Kiss of Death was an engaging and suspenseful film noir thriller. Standout performances were delivered from Victor Mature and Richard Widmark among others. Widmark as the sadistic Udo had a particularly memorable turn. This film actually reminded me quite a bit of the Humphrey Bogart film, The Enforcer, at least the first twenty minutes of that equally good crime drama. In both movies, the turning of evidence by witnesses for the state and their protection figure prominently. Unfortunately, the witness in The Enforcer isn't as lucky as Nick Bianco. One other note: the great Karl Malden has a small role in this film as a junior detective. Both Kiss of Death and The Enforcer get a solid 8/10.

Rating * * * 1/2 Victor Mature gives one of his best performances here in this taut thriller. He plays a thief who informs on his own gang and is hunted by psycho Richard Widmark. The film is famous for the scene in which Widmark as giggling killer Tommy Udo pushes a wheelchair bound old lady down the stairs.