The Killers (Robert Siodmak) Arrow

[Oscar Rothman]

Release Date: 17th November 2014
Format: Blu-ray
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien
Directed by: Robert Siodmak

Synopsis: THE MAN WHO WANTED TO DIE…

Ernest Hemingway’s spare, laconic short story about two professional killers and their encounter with a mysteriously unresisting victim was significantly expanded into this all-time film noir classic, which Hemingway said was the first adaptation of his work that he really admired.

As washed-up boxer turned hitman victim Ole ‘Swede’ Andreson, Burt Lancaster made his screen debut, and was catapulted to instant stardom, not least for the screen chemistry that he showed opposite sultry Ava Gardner, whose Kitty Collins is the very personification of the femme fatale.

German émigré Robert Siodmak was one of the filmmakers who helped create film noir, and Elwood Bredell’s high-contrast cinematography, all harsh lighting and long shadows, elevates the film far above a conventional crime drama. But even on that level it’s a first-rate demonstration of how to maintain narrative tension, with the flashback structure withholding crucial details until almost the very end.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
- Gorgeous new High Definition digital transfer of the film
- Original uncompressed PCM mono 1.0 audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
- More details to be announced!

[Skog]

Why'd they even bother to release the first BD?

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Skog

Why'd they even bother to release the first BD?

Don Siegel, Lee Marvin, John Cassavetes, Angie Dickinson, Ronald Reagan...need I say no more?

I do want to see this one too though. How about the Tarkovsky short as an extra, like with the Criterion release?

[nitin]

One of THE all the time great noirs IMHO.

[aewb]

Originally Posted by Skog

Why'd they even bother to release the first BD?

Huh?

[Judex]

I've had the urge to revisit this one lately. So I'll defiantly be picking this up.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Skog

Why'd they even bother to release the first BD?

Both films are worthy releases on their own considering the presentations and extras, and they'd make more money with separate SKU's.

[huntauk]

Good choice love the 40's noirs (Can someone please release Gun Crazy in the UK? The French disc is too pricey ATM). I'll be picking this one up. I enjoyed the Siegel version but the original for me has the edge.

[Melodious Thunk]

At last! The Killers is one of my favourite noirs, I've been itching for it to get a BD release for ages.

[tenia]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Both films are worthy releases on their own considering the presentations and extras, and they'd make more money with separate SKU's.

Absolutely.
Carlotta is also releasing the Siodmak as a single title, and I'm quite sure the Siegel version will have its own French BD soon.

[Le Samourai]

Originally Posted by Skog

Why'd they even bother to release the first BD?

Agreed this one is much better. I know that's not what you ment but this is a much better noir . Very pleased about this.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by nitin

One of THE all the time great noirs IMHO.

love it , we need more noir releases. i wouldnt mind if they skip a few slasher and trash movies to release more noir !

[nitin]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

love it , we need more noir releases. i wouldnt mind if they skip a few slasher and trash movies to release more noir !

Apparently Warner Archive might be stepping it up release wise in 2015 so there are certainly chances there. Grab their release of Out of the Past if you have not already.

[joie]

"The Killers" is good to see because several of its scenes are replayed in "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid," a parody of old, 4X3, b&w crime movies of the 1940s.

[Dan8700]

Mine! Recently, Arrow>>>>>>>>Criterion.

[Oscar Rothman]

Originally Posted by nitin

One of THE all the time great noirs IMHO.

Yep, terrific noir Much better than Siegel's version IMO.

[nitin]

well to be fair the 64 version is not noir, more of a crime drama, and its hardly even the same film.

[Judex]

£11.99 on Zavvi

Zavvi sent me a 10% off code the other day so, I ordered it for £10.79.

[RiFiFi1955]

Just saw this announcement today! Needless to say that it made my day

[Judex]

THE MAN WHO WANTED TO DIE…

Ernest Hemingway’s spare, laconic short story about two professional killers and their encounter with a mysteriously unresisting victim was significantly expanded into this all-time film noir classic, which Hemingway said was the first adaptation of his work that he really admired.

As washed-up boxer turned hitman victim Ole ‘Swede’ Andreson, Burt Lancaster made his screen debut, and was catapulted to instant stardom, not least for the screen chemistry that he showed opposite sultry Ava Gardner, whose Kitty Collins is the very personification of the femme fatale.

German émigré Robert Siodmak was one of the directors who helped create film noir, and Woody Bredell’s high-contrast cinematography, all harsh lighting and long shadows, elevates the film far above a conventional crime drama. But even on that level it’s a first-rate demonstration of how to maintain narrative tension, with the flashback structure withholding crucial details until almost the very end.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• Newly restored High Definition (1080p) presentation of the feature, transferred from original film elements by Universal
• Original uncompressed PCM mono 1.0 audio
• Isolated Music & Effects soundtrack to highlight Miklós Rózsa’s famous score
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
• Frank Krutnik on The Killers, a video piece by the author of In a Lonely Street, which introduces the film and offers a detailed commentary on four key scenes
• Heroic Fatalism, a video essay adapted from Philip Booth’s comparative study of multiple versions of The Killers (Hemingway, Siodmak, Tarkovsky, Siegel)
• Three archive radio pieces inspired by The Killers: the 1949 Screen Director’s Playhouse adaptation with Burt Lancaster and Shelley Winters; a 1946 Jack Benny spoof; the 1958 Suspense episode ‘Two for the Road’ which reunited original killers William Conrad and Charles McGraw
• Stills and posters gallery
• Trailers for The Killers, Brute Force, The Naked City and Rififi
• Reversible sleeve featuring one of the original posters and newly commissioned artwork by Jay Shaw
• Collector’s booklet containing new writing by Sergio Angelini and archive interviews with director Robert Siodmak, producer Mark Hellinger and cinematographer Woody Bredell, illustrated with original production stills