Kiss of Death (1947)

Kiss Of Death

The movie "The Kiss Of Death starring Victor Mature and Brian Donlevy and introducing Richard Widmark is a fine film of the noire genre. Richard Widmark one acclaim as Johnny Udo, psychopathic killer with a sinister laugh. I am a big Victor Mature fan. He does a great job as an ex-con who is asked by DA who is played by Brian Donlevy to try and pretend to be friends with Johnny Udo while trying to get the good on him. At first he doesn't want to do it but then he sees what kind of a man Johnny Udo is and he changes his mind. I believe anyone who likes a good drama with action will enjoy this movie. I give it five stars. August 1, 2008

Kiss of Death Movie Review

Shot on location in New York, which few films could claim back in 1947, Henry Hathaway's Kiss of Death is a sensationally thrilling film noir that features one of the most memorable movie villains. A typical hard-boiled gangster film, Kiss of Death sports the essential elements of classic noir, including a confused anti-hero, devious villains, gunplay and action, incompetent cops and sets that cast shadows on everything that steps past the screen.

Nick Bianco (Victor Mature) is a common mob criminal with a stirring sense of decency, hidden beneath his stone-like demeanor. Caught during a jewelry store heist, he refuses to rat out his accomplices and is sentenced to a harsh term in Ossining (that's Sing Sing for you gangsters). His silence comes from faith in his lawyer Howser, who regularly defends mobsters and assures him that he will get an early release and soon be reunited with his wife and kids. But as time passes and he hears nothing from his lawyer, he gets word from a fellow inmate that his wife has committed suicide and his kids were sent to an orphanage.

Distraught at his loss and his inability to help his children, he decides to aid the district attorney with nailing the other criminals involved in his organization, in return for a lightened sentence. When he is able to provide sufficient evidence against mob hitman Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark), a trial is set, but the jury finds Udo innocent. Realizing the dangers of a stoolie, Bianco sends his newfound girlfriend Nettie (Coleen Gray) away with his kids for safe keeping so that he can settle the score against the vengeful Udo.

Bianco is a classic noir anti-hero who is not an entirely bad guy but is caught in harsh times - he wants to go straight but is doomed to never be able to fully remove himself from the criminal lifestyle. Although he eventually breaks free from his sense of duty to the mob, the ilk that surrounds him returns to pull him back in. Seeing an anti-hero continually make mistakes despite his overall decency is nothing entirely new, but Bianco's gentle-giant temperament assists in defining a character that we can't help but admire and pity. In addition, the police incompetence forces the character to take on odds and stress that would shatter a man with less gumption.

However, nothing can outdo Richard Widmark's show-stealing performance as the unhinged Tommy Udo, a villain so sinister not even a mother could love. Slapping dames, antagonizing the innocent, cackling like a madman at every word and throwing wheelchair-bound old ladies down flights of stairs is just the beginning of Udo's vicious character development, which leaves the audience grinning with glee at how innovative this gangster from the 40's was. His unique design was a stepping stone for future criminals who all outperform the protagonists we're supposed to be rooting for. "He's nuts and he's smarter than you are," quips Bianco to district attorney Louis D'Angelo (Brian Donlevy) after Udo weasels past the jury with charges of murder.

A luxurious noir score also presides over the events of the luckless Bianco, with thanks to composer David Buttolph who carefully submerges us in the moody atmosphere of this hard-boiled thriller. Nominated for two Academy Awards, one for Widmark's outstanding supporting performance, and one for the original screenplay (with Nettie's sultry voice to narrate), Kiss of Death is indispensable film noir.

- Mike Massie
February 15, 2008

Was the "Wheelchair giggle" scene cut?

This film is terrific, and the video transfer is great. But I have a question for anyone who can answer. I have a distinct recollection from many many years ago when I last saw this film, that when Richard Widmark pushes Mildred Dunnock down the stairs in a wheelchair, after she crashes, we see Widmark standing at the top of the stairs, giving that giggle that made this scene one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history. Yet on this DVD, after he pushes her down, we see her crash, and then the screen goes to black, and then to the next scene. Did I remember this wrong, or has some cretinous censor at Fox truncated the scene. Does anyone remember this the way I do? October 8, 2007

You don't think of great noir when you think of Victor Mature.

This isn't great but, as Nick, the protagonist, Mature is pretty good. But Richard Widmark, as Tommy a psychopath criminal, is absolutely riveting. The scene, later in the movie, in which Tommy pushes an old lady in a wheel chair down the stairs is classic. Nick is a criminal too but more sympathetic. He has a wife & kids to feed. He get caught during a jewel heist & everyone else escapes. The district attorney D'Angelo (Brian Donlevy) has a soft spot for Nick. He offers to let him walk if he helps convict the rest of the gang. Nick refuses to talk as his mob lawyer assures him his wife & kids will be taken care of while he's in jail. Then his wife commits suicide & kids are sent to a orphanage. He decides to help the cops, is released & goes straight. He gets the kids back & marries their baby-sitter (?). She's kind of young for Victor Mature's character, but she did visit him while he was in prison. Eventually the gang & Tommy come to trial & Nick testifies. Tommy is found "not guilty". Tommy is upset with Nick because they were friends & Nick ratted him out. Violence will ensue. The climax is suspenseful with a good payoff. You like Noir? See it. May 16, 2007

Snickering Gangster!

First of all, I must say I love all of these fox film noir classics. I own many of them and hope to own them all eventually. This film is the debue of Richard Widmark and by his performance, it's easy to see why he became a star. He plays a snickering gangster and he plays it well. Victor Mature and Brian Donlevy are great also. I recommend it highly. April 8, 2007

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