Kiss of Death (1947)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Victor
Mature, Brian Donlevy, Karl Malden, Richard Widmark, Coleen Gray, Taylor
Holmes, Mildred Dunrock
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
This is a wonderful 1947 crime thriller film that stands the
test of time. A true film noir. What makes this film stand out the most is, it has the phenomenal actor Richard Widmarks first starring feature film role.
The story is simple yet classic film noir unique. Nick
Bianco and his 3 con men, robbers go about robbing a jewelry store. The robbery
does not go as plan. Nick is hurt and arrested. Instead of snitching he ends up
going to jail for 20 years. 3 years in his wife commits suicide and his
daughters are sent to an orphanage. Now what makes this important is Nick was
under the impression that his group would take care of his wife and kids for
taking the wrap. Instead he finds out that his wife was in financial problems.
Next to make things worse he finds out that one of his crew members raped and
brutalized his wife. Nick works with the police. Soon he gets out. Add in a
psychopathic killer played flawlessly by Widmark. Many murders and you have one
tight and twisted little gem of a crime film. Equal parts brutal and equal
parts dramatic.
Kiss of Death was directed by one of my favorite directors
of the past. He had a total expertise in creating memorable films, and
executing those characters on screen into a believable reality. If you know me,
you know I mention growing up on Westerns. Staying at my Uncles house most of
my childhood, there was always westerns on and many of those westerns where
directed by Henry Hathaway. Hathaway was a passionate director. He worked with
all the greats, the one of kind, amazing Randolph Scott. The legend and Icon
John Wayne. The sexy, handsome Gary Cooper. He partly directed one of my
favorite Westerns of all time 1962’s How the West Was Won. Also directed the
one and only 1969’s True Grit. Twilight Time has honored him with another
Special Edition release, his Garden of Evil which you can read my review in the
Twilight Time section of reviews.
A wonderful cast of actors and actresses. The amazing Victor
Mature, Brain Donlevy, Coleen Gray, Richard Widmark. Mature was a true
brilliant talent. He starred in some of the great films in cinema history. The
one and only 1946 My Darling Clementine, 1949’s Samson and Delilah, 1953’s The
Robe and so many others. Mature was a true genius of film. He will always be
remembered by any film historian or movie lover. This film was nominated for
many awards and won many. Richard Widmark won most promising newcomer at the Golden Globes. Ben
Hecht and Charles Lederer won for Best Screenplay at the Locarno International
Film Festival. Victor Mature won best actor also at the International Film Festival.
Also, Richard Widmark was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting
Role. Over the years, the movie has garnered a great following of fans and
great respect from movie lovers.
Now there is a 1995 remake of the film starring David
Caruso, Samuel L. Jackson, Helen Hunt and Nicolas Cage. They change the plot
and alter the reality of the movie as most remakes do.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Priceless as always. Beautiful black tones. Crisp imagery.
Brilliant audio. Ear candy. Yet again another flawless way to treat a film.
Twilight Time knows how to do it best.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.33:1
AUDIO: English 2.0 DTS-HD MA / English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1947 / B&W
Extras:
My Rating: 3 out of 5
Isolated Music Track. Composed by a genius of film. David
Buttolph left an amazing career in music and in film. He scored well over 300
movies. A truly prolific career. It was wonderful hearing this isolated score.
Audio Commentary with Film Historians Julie Kirgo and Nick
Redman. Priceless as always. A wonderful listen by two amazing film historians.
Kirgo and Redman are fantastic film gurus to knowledge yourself on any film they
are talking about.
Audio Commentary with Film Historians James Ursini and Alain
Silver. Another wonderful listen. Priceless to be able to hear so many film
historians speak about a film.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Overall:
Again, Twilight Time has done another priceless job in bringing
a wonderful product out. A perfect Blu-ray. Always a true treat to experience.
Kiss of Death is a great film to own and speak about and most of all praise. What
better way to praise it then on a wonderful high quality 1080p transfer Blu-ray.
Twilight Time aces it yet again. Highly recommended.
INFO:
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beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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