{"id":5947,"date":"2008-10-12T20:22:40","date_gmt":"2008-10-13T03:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5947"},"modified":"2022-02-22T09:29:01","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T16:29:01","slug":"kiss-of-death-1947","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5947","title":{"rendered":"Kiss of Death (1947)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You know what I do to squealers? I let &#8217;em have it in the belly, so they can roll it over for a long time, thinkin&#8217; it over.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[<strong>Note:<\/strong> The following review is of a non-Peary title; click <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=4388\">here<\/a> to read more.]<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Poster-202x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-61035\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Poster-202x300.png 202w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Poster-689x1024.png 689w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Poster-86x128.png 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Poster-182x270.png 182w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Poster.png 739w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn order to get parole and spend time with his new wife (Coleen Gray) and children, a thief (Victor Mature) decides to rat on his partners, risking the wrath of a psychopathic con named Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Brian Donlevy Films<\/li>\n<li>Cat-and-Mouse<\/li>\n<li>Coleen Gray Films<\/li>\n<li>Ex-Cons<\/li>\n<li>Karl Malden Films<\/li>\n<li>Mildred Dunnock Films<\/li>\n<li>Revenge<\/li>\n<li>Richard Widmark Films<\/li>\n<li>Thieves and Gangsters<\/li>\n<li>Victor Mature Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nHenry Hathaway&#8217;s <em>Kiss of Death<\/em> is a curious omission from Peary&#8217;s book, given that it contains one of the most infamous scenes in all of <em>noir<\/em> history: Richard Widmark&#8217;s psychotic &#8220;Tommy Udo&#8221; gleefully shoving wheelchair-bound Mildred Dunnock down a staircase, in order to teach her &#8220;squealing&#8221; son a lesson. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Wheelchair.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Wheelchair-1024x776.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"485\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61053\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Wheelchair-1024x776.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Wheelchair-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Wheelchair-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Wheelchair-768x582.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Wheelchair-356x270.png 356w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Wheelchair.png 1363w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, <em>Kiss of Death<\/em> brought immediate fame to Widmark, and it&#8217;s easy to see why: while many note that Mature gives one of the best performances of his career here, his character: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography6.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography6-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography6-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography6-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography6-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography6-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography6-360x270.png 360w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography6.png 1367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212; a conflicted con hoping for a second chance &#8212; is literally dwarfed by Udo, who dominates each scene he&#8217;s in. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark4-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark4-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark4-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark4-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark4-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark4-360x270.png 360w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark4.png 1375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As played by Widmark, giggling Udo emerges as one of the quintessential &#8220;villains&#8221; of cinema; critic James Agee (cited in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allmovie.com\/movie\/kiss-of-death-v27533\">All Movie Guide OVerview<\/a>) wrote, &#8220;You feel that murder is the kindest thing he&#8217;s capable of.&#8221; The film itself (co-written by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer) is competent <em>noir<\/em>, with several suspenseful sequences (particularly the final showdown between Mature and Widmark) and atmospheric location cinematography in New York City &#8212; but it&#8217;s Widmark who ultimately elevates it to &#8220;must see&#8221; status. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Blink and you&#8217;ll miss Karl Malden in a tiny role as a police sergeant grilling Mature. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Malden.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Malden-1024x772.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"483\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61052\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Malden-1024x772.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Malden-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Malden-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Malden-768x579.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Malden-358x270.png 358w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Malden.png 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Richard Widmark in a career-making turn as Tommy Udo<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark-1024x763.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"477\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61047\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark-1024x763.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Widmark.png 1383w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Victor Mature as Tony Bianco<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Mature2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Mature2-1024x763.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"477\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61045\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Mature2-1024x763.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Mature2-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Mature2-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Mature2-768x572.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Mature2-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Mature2.png 1379w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Coleen Gray as Mature&#8217;s love interest<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Gray.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Gray-1024x769.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61046\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Gray-1024x769.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Gray-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Gray-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Gray-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Gray-360x270.png 360w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Gray.png 1371w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Effective use of New York locales<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Locale.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Locale-1024x765.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61048\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Locale-1024x765.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Locale-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Locale-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Locale-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Locale-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Locale.png 1377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Norbert Brodine&#8217;s <em>noir<\/em>-ish cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography4-1024x751.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography4-1024x751.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography4-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography4-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography4-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography4-368x270.png 368w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/Kiss-of-Death-Cinematography4.png 1367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for Richard Widmark&#8217;s truly noteworthy, Oscar-nominated performance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0039536\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.noiroftheweek.com\/2007\/05\/kiss-of-death-1947.html\">Noir of the Week Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1947\/08\/28\/archives\/kiss-of-death-fox-melodrama-with-victor-mature-in-lead-arrives-at.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/movies.tvguide.com\/kiss-death\/review\/103318\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/reviews\/78780\/kiss_of_death.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You know what I do to squealers? I let &#8217;em have it in the belly, so they can roll it over for a long time, thinkin&#8217; it over.&#8221; [Note: The following review is of a non-Peary title; click here to read more.] Synopsis: In order to get parole and spend time with his new wife (Coleen Gray) and children, a thief (Victor Mature) decides to rat on his partners, risking the wrath of a psychopathic con named Tommy Udo (Richard&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5947\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-missing-title-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5947"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81631,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5947\/revisions\/81631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}