Killer's Kiss

Crime, Drama, Thriller · 1955Not Rated

Stanley Kubrick's second feature film covers two days in the life of boxer Davy Gordon — he meets nightclub dancer Gloria Price; the two fall in love, and decide to make their futures somewhere other than New York City. But Vince Rapallo, Gloria's ex-employer, wants her for himself, and not only won't take "no" for an answer but has no intention of losing her to a two-bit boxer. His machinations lead to murder, a police manhunt, and revenge in the best film noir fashion — the very best, in fact, as Kubrick's use of real New York settings gives the action here a startling verisimilitude, as though we're watching a documentary, or the unfolding of actual events. The violence escalates as Davy and Rapallo find themselves going one-on-one, to the death if need be, with a climax in a warehouse filled with department store mannequins and their various component parts. This low-budget film definitely foreshadows Kubrick as one of the most amazing talents in cinematic history.

Starring

Stanley Kubrick, Frank Silvera, Jamie Smith, Stanley Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick, Irene Kane, Stanley Kubrick, Jerry Jarrett, Mike Dana, Stanley Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick

Director

Stanley Kubrick

Producer

Morris Bousel