Search - The Killing on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Violence, Not For Children Movie Release: 1956 DVD Release: 06/29/1999 Format: DVD - Black and White Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 29 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 12 Genres: Crime, Film Noir, Crime Thriller, Gangster Film

The Killing was director Stanley Kubrick's first major film effort -- though, like Kubrick's earlier films, it was economically produced with an inexpensive cast. In a variation of his Asphalt Jungle role, Sterling Hayden plays veteran criminal Johnny Clay, planning one last big heist before settling down to a respectable marriage with Fay (Colleen Gray). Teaming with several cohorts, Johnny masterminds a racetrack robbery. The basic flaw is that all the crooks involved are losers and small-timers who find themselves in way over their heads despite their supposed cleverness. None of the participants is more pathetic than George Peatty (Elisha Cook Jr.), who is goaded into the robbery by his covetous and far-from-faithful wife (Marie Windsor). As in a Greek tragedy, Johnny's best-laid schemes go awry. Prominently featured in the cast of The Killing are offbeat character actors Tim Carey and Joe Turkel, who'd show up with equally showy roles in future Kubrick productions. The Killing is based on the novel -Clean Break by Lionel White. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sterling Hayden - Johnny Clay
Coleen Gray - Fay
Marie Windsor - Sherry Peatty
Elisha Cook, Jr. - George Peatty
Vince Edwards - Val Cannon
Jay C. Flippen - Marvin Unger

Director Stanley Kubrick's classic heist film and inspiration for Reservoir Dogs couldn't be a more standard DVD release, even more bare bones than the simplistic Stanley Kubrick Collection seven-pack, which doesn't include this film in its box. The reason this disc misses so badly is because it merely offers the film in its standard full-screen version, with mono audio. There's no widescreen presentation whatsoever, which is common in nearly all DVDs today, and the single theatrical trailer looks like it was transferred from an old used print. If there is a silver lining to this package, however, it's that DVD transfers tend to make black-and-white pop with visual brilliance, which is certainly the case here. Though not new, the transfer of the film itself still sparkles, with beautiful cinematography and striking images. The disc advertises a four-page booklet highlighting the making of the film, but it's really just a leaflet inserted into the case, with no more than 12 bullet points highlighting facts about the film. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide