The Killers Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Killers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 6, 2014

Director Robert Siodmak's "The Killers" (1946) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label Carlotta Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; video interview with Herve Dumont, director of Cinematheque Suisse; 1949 radio adaptation of The Killers, starring Burt Lancaster and Shelley Winters; Andrei Tarkovski's 1956 student version of the film; and more. In English, with optional French subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Kitty and the Swede

In the rather long prologue of this legendary film noir, two killers (William Conrad and Charles McGraw) arrive in a small New Jersey town looking for a man nicknamed the "Swede" (Burt Lancaster, Brute Force, Conversation Piece). In the local diner, they confront the bartender, the waiter and a customer named Nick Adams. When they leave, Nick rushes to a nearby hotel to warn the Swede. Much to his surprise, however, the handsome young man refuses to run away or call the police. Shortly after, he is killed.

A series of uneven episodes gradually reveal why the Swede had to die.

In one of them ambitious insurance investigator Jim Reardon (Edmond O’ Brien, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) begins asking questions to find out more about the Swede because he had a policy with his company. He quickly discovers that the Swede was an ex-boxer who started hanging around with a shady character named Colfax and befriended his younger mistress, Kitty Collins (Ava Gardner, On the Beach, Pandora and the Flying Dutchman).

In another episode, a member of Colfax’s gang is found shot. Before he dies in a local hospital, he mumbles something about a robbery and a payout.

Other men who knew the Swede are then questioned and through various flashbacks his past is reassembled. Eventually, the insurance investigator meets 'Dum-Dum' Clarke (Jack Lambert, Kiss Me Deadly), another member of Colfax’s gang also looking for answers, and the flirty Kitty.

Directed by German-born director Robert Siodmak, The Killers is loosely based on a short story by Ernest Hemingway which was published in 1927. The film launched Lancaster’s career and went on to earn four Oscar nominations, including Best Director and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

The prologue essentially sums up Hemingway’s original short story which chronicles the arrival of the killers in the small town but does not reveal any details about the Swede’s past. The rest of the film actually introduces events from a different story about a real heist gone wrong, which producer Mark Hellinger liked. This story was developed by the great John Huston and later on finalized by Anthony Veiller.

The film is very dark but it has a good sense of humor. The dialog is sharp and witty but it does not feel like the different characters try hard to impress. In other words, there is good balance between style and substance.

Lancaster is terrific. There are numerous close-ups in which he already looks like a big star. Gardner is stunningly elegant throughout the entire film. Even during the card game where the Swede confronts Colfax and she isn’t dressed to impress, she looks fantastic. O’Brien and Lambert also leave lasting impressions.

Siodmak and cinematographer Elwood Bredell‘s careful framing and use of light and shadow quickly create the type of atmosphere that makes so many of these film noirs special. The film is also complimented by a very edgy soundtrack courtesy of the legendary Miklós Rózsa (Ben-Hur, Double Indemnity).

The Killers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Robert Siodmak's The Killers arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label Carlotta Films.

Excluding some very minor sharpness fluctuations -- all of which are clearly inherited -- that appear during or after a few transitions, the film looks very beautiful in high-definition. During close-ups depth and clarity are very good, even when light is clearly restricted, while the large panoramic shots boast very pleasing fluidity (see screencapture #4). Color balance is very good. Even where the blacks become very prominent clarity and definition are not compromised (see screencapture #16). There are no traces of problematic degraining or sharpening adjustments. Overall image stability is very good. Large debris, cuts, damage marks, scratches, and stains have been removed as best as possible. Lastly, there are no encoding or compression anomalies to report in this review. All in all, this is a lovely presentation of The Killers which is guaranteed to make fans of the film very happy. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

The Killers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. For the record, Carlotta Films have provided optional French subtitles for the main feature. (You must use your remote control to turn them off).

The sound has pleasing depth and very good fluidity. The overall range of nuanced dynamics is limited, but Miklós Rózsa's edgy score very effectively enhances a number of important sequences. The dialog is crisp, stable, clear, and very easy to follow. For the record, there is no problematic background hiss, pops, audio dropouts, or digital distortions to report in this review.

The Killers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Hemingway/Siodmak - in this documentary program, film teacher Marguerite Chabrol (Paris X) discusses the adaptation of Hemingway's original story and some of the film's unique qualities. In French, not subtitled. (24 min).

• Entretien avec Herve Dumont - in this video interview, Herve Dumont, director of Cinematheque Suisse, discusses the production history and visual style of The Killers. In French, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Expressionnisme en Noires et Blanches - in this visual essay, journalist Christian Lauliac (Split-Screen) discusses the use of music in The Killers and the film's visual style. The film's soundtrack was created by the legendary composer Miklós Rózsa. In French, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Le Boxeur sans Confession - this video program, which focuses on the visual style of The Killers, was created by Hollywood Cinema expert Pierre Berthomieu. In French, not subtitled. (15 min).

• "Les Tueurs" Version Radiophonique - Screen Director's Playhouse 1949 radio adaptation of The Killers, starring Burt Lancaster and Shelley Winters. In English, with optional French subtitles. (31 min).

• "Les Tueurs" d'Andrei Tarkovski - Andrei Tarkovski's 1956 student version of The Killers. In Russian, with optional French subtitles. (21 min).

• Bande-annonce - original U.S. trailer for The Killers. In English, with optional French subtitles. (2 min).

The Killers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is the version of The Killers to see and own. It is finally available on Blu-ray courtesy of French label Carlotta Films and it looks wonderful. This release also has some excellent supplemental features, but the majority of them are not English-friendly. French speakers in Region-B territories and in Canada should definitely consider adding it to their collections. Let's hope that soon we will also have a local Criterion release of this film. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.