Today’s Seven Shadows film is The Killers, starring Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner (pop over to
my site, Shadows and Satin, to read Andrew’s review of this classic feature).
This picture starts out with the murder of a gas station attendant known as
“The Swede,” and spends the rest of its time showing us the hows, whys, and
wherefores of the crime. There’s a lot to love about The Killers – it features fast-paced direction, an awesome Miklos
Rozsa score, a painterly use of lights and shadows, and an opening scene so
good that I could put ice cream on top of it and eat it with a spoon. Best of
all, for me, the film also serves up a mélange of fascinating, well-drawn
characters. Here’s a look at some of the many standout personas in The Killers:
Al and Max (Charles
McGraw and William Conrad)
We first see Al and Max – the “Killers” of the film’s title
– underneath the opening credits. It’s a really distinctive entrance,
especially since they don’t appear until about 35 seconds after the credits
begin. If you’re not looking carefully, you may not even notice at first that
they have entered the screen and are walking toward you. We don’t really find
out a lot about these two, beyond the fact that they are stone-cold killers and
are quick with a salty quip, which we learn when they visit the small-town diner
that is frequented by a fellow by the name of Pete Lund, also known as The
Swede. Demonstrating demeanors that are the very epitome of cool, Al and Max
quietly take over the diner, beginning with the moment that they step inside
(interestingly, they each enter from a different door and join each other at
the counter. I don’t know why I find that particularly interesting – I just do!
It somehow adds to their aura of bad-assery.).
.jpg) |
| Al (Charles McGraw) and Max (William Conrad) terrorize a diner owner in the film's opening scene. |
The Swede (Burt
Lancaster)
We are introduced to The Swede when a customer from the
diner, Nick Adams (Phil Brown), arrives at his boarding house room with a
warning about the killers who are on his path. The Swede submissively receives
the news, conceding that he “did something wrong – once.” He doesn’t even
bother to get out of his bed, let alone attempt to escape his impending demise.
But why?
Through a series of unrelated flashbacks, we learn more
about The Swede – not the least of which that his real name was not Pete Lund,
but Ole Andreson, and that he was a former and once-promising prize-fighter
whose career ended when he broke his hand. We also learn that he loved not too
wisely, but too well – in the final analysis, it was his devotion to a gorgeous
dame by the name of Kitty Collins that turned out to be his undoing, in more
ways than one.
Jim Riordan (Edmond
O’Brien)
An insurance investigator, Riordan was like a dog with a
bone – he was determined to unearth the story behind The Swede’s murder, and he
didn’t give up or give in; even getting kicked in the head – literally – didn’t
scare him away. I read in a review on
another website that the film doesn’t make clear why Riordan is so passionate
about the case, which, I suppose, is true. But it doesn’t really matter. He’s
crafty, intelligent, and relentless, putting together the pieces of The Swede’s
life and death like a puzzle master. He’s certainly not the most flashy
character in the film, but he’s always interesting to watch.
 |
| Edmond O'Brien was bound and determined to ferret out the truth. |
Lt. Sam Lubinsky (Sam
Levene)
Lubinsky was Ole’s childhood friend – Ole went into boxing,
Lubinsky joined the police force; he was at Ole’s first fight and his last. He
was obviously devoted to his longtime friend, but on the surface, that might
not be so evident. It was Lubinsky, for instance, who was responsible for
sending Ole to jail for a three-year stretch for burglary (a crime he didn’t
commit, incidentally – he was, instead, covering for a certain dame). Lubinsky
also wound up marrying Ole’s former girlfriend, Lilly (Virginia Christine) –
but they were such good friends that Ole served as best man. And when Lubinsky
learned of his old friend’s murder, he sent for his body and, along with his wife,
held a small service.
Lubinsky was no dummy, that’s for sure. The Swede himself
described him as “one smart copper.” In an early scene, he easily nabs Kitty
for some stolen jewelry, despite the fact that she cunningly (she thinks) stashes
it in a bowl of leftover stew. Lubinsky teams up with Riordan and, together,
this dynamic duo finally tracks down all of the principal players involved –
whether directly or indirectly – in the murder of The Swede.
Big Jim Colfax (Albert
Dekker)
Gang leader Jim was smooth, understated, and deadly. From
the first time we see him, it’s apparent that he’s not the kind of guy you want
to cross. We’re briefly introduced to Big Jim when he arrives at the gas
station in Brentwood, California, where The Swede works. Although he doesn’t do
more than make curt requests for car service, Big Jim’s piercing, unblinking
stare makes his menace more than apparent. He demonstrates this trait again in
a later scene, when he asks a member of his gang, Dum Dum (Jack Lambert) if
he’d like to play a game of Blackjack. Dum Dum declines: “Not with you, I
don’t. I know your reputation.” Big Jim barely reacts, except to give a rather humorless
titter – he just continues smoking and playing with the cards. But a few
minutes later, he calmly tells Dum Dum: “A minute ago, we were talking about
reputations. Well, you’ve got quite a reputation yourself. You’re supposed to
be a trouble-maker.” Jim then removes his cigarette from his mouth, practically
impaling Dum Dum with his deadly gaze. “Okay,” he says. “Make some.” (Zing!)
Charleston (Vince
Barnett)
Charleston (we don’t know whether that is his first name or
his last) shared a cell with Ole during his stretch in prison – he’s a, shall
we say “seasoned” ex-con with a love for astronomy (“I don’t guess there’s a
better place in the whole world for learning about stars than stir,” he tells
Ole.). After the two are released, they meet with Big Jim and his gang about a
planned payroll heist. Unlike the others, however, Charleston turns it down. “If
it’s as big as you claim, it’s not going to be any easy pickings – nothing that
big ever is,” he explains. “And that’s what I want from here on in. Easy
pickings.” He also attempts to share his wisdom with Ole, cryptically warning
him against getting involved again with Kitty – but, unfortunately, Ole fails
to catch the drift.
Kitty Collins (Ava
Gardner)
Last, but positively not least – not if she has anything to
say about it. Beautiful, raven-haired Kitty was passionate and fearless,
duplicitous and self-centered – a femme fatale through and through. She may
have been soft on the outside, but she was like steel on the inside, a fact
that she shows in a scene where Big Jim threatens to slap her and Ole springs
to her defense. “Mind your own business, Swede. I can take care of myself,”
Kitty says. Then she turns to Jim. “You touch me and you won’t live ‘til
morning.” And that’s the end of that
conversation. Memorably, Kitty also shows what she’s made of near the end of
the film, when we learn that she will do anything – and I do mean anything – to
save her own skin.
 |
| I love this shot - it clearly shows Lily's longing for Ole, who only has eyes for Kitty, who is wearing the heck out of that dress |
From The Swede to Kitty, Big Jim to Charleston, The Killers is truly rich with
characterization. It’s like a treasure trove of fascinating personalities,
brought to life by a series of superb performances. And I didn’t even expound
on Dum Dum, so named because of the unique bullets he likes to use; Blinky
Franklin (Jeff Corey), an ex-drug addict with an almost child-like demeanor;
and Lily, Lt. Lubinsky’s wife and Ole’s ex, who lost Ole’s affection the second
he laid eyes on Kitty (and that gorgeous one-strap black gown). If you’ve never
seen this first-rate film and had the pleasure of meeting these unforgettable
characters, be sure to check it out! And if you have, see it again!
You only owe it to yourself.
May 4, 2012 12:00pm
by Karen Burroughs Hannsberry
No comments:
Post a Comment