The Killing
The Killing is a 1956 American film noir directed by Stanley Kubrick and produced by James B. Harris. It was written by Kubrick and Jim Thompson and based on Lionel White's novel Clean Break. It stars Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, and Vince Edwards, and features Marie Windsor, Elisha Cook Jr., Jay C. Flippen and Timothy Carey.
Plot
Johnny Clay, a career criminal recently released from prison, plans the heist at a thoroughbred racetrack, with an estimated take of two million dollars. His associate Marvin Unger provides financial backing for the plot, makes his apartment available as a hideout, and provides its address to two of the track's employees: cashier George Peatty, and bartender Mike O'Reilly. Corrupt police officer Randy Kennan joins the scheme. George, trapped in a loveless marriage with his materialistic wife Sherry, confesses the plan to her, which she immediately communicates to her boyfriend Val.
More details
| author | Jim Thompson Lionel White Stanley Kubrick |
|---|---|
| director | Stanley Kubrick |
| editor | Betty Steinberg |
| genre | crime thriller |
| keywords | baggage handler check checked baggage conspiracy conspire draw drive driver eavesdrop hand luggage horse racing horseshoe last man standing locker room loveless marriage morning of police officer racetrack thoroughbred trap wound |
| musicBy | Gerald Fried |
| producer | James B. Harris |
| productionCompany | Harris-Kubrick Pictures Corporation |
| publisher | United Artists |
| theme | film noir heist narrative |