Category: Robert Siodmak
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‘The Killers’: A much loved noir that’s the spitting image of another American classic
Ava Gardner, Burt Lancaster, ‘The Killers’ (1946). By Paul Parcellin “The Killers” (1946) Some say “The Killers” is the “Citizen Kane” of noir, but how can that be? One is a beloved noir, the story behind a brutal murder of a washed up prizefighter. The other, a fictional biography of a media tycoon, loosely based…
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‘The Killers’: Nagging Questions In a Haze of Gunsmoke
Left, Burt Lancaster, “The Killers” (1946). Right, Lee Marvin, “The Killers” (1964). In both versions, sports heroes have tragic downfalls and alluring women enter the picture to offer a helping hand — it doesn’t turn out well for the wounded competitors By Paul Parcellin “The Killers” (1946) Robert Siodmak (director) — “The Killers” (1964) Don…
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Lovesick Wanderer Returns … to a Double Cross
Burt Lancaster, Yvonne DeCarlo, “Criss Cross” (1949). This article contains spoilers. By Paul Parcellin The magnetic attraction between Steve Thompson (Burt Lancaster) and Anna (Yvonne DeCarlo) is the stuff that drives “Criss Cross” toward its dramatic and deadly conclusion. Steve returns to town after two year’s absence and the first thing on his mind is…