Talk:The Killing (film)

Inappropriate redirect/disambiguation

This article doesn't seem a very good target for redirecting "Killing". The article on the mathematician Wilhelm Killing would seem a more appropriate target, but a disambiguation page between him, things named for him, this film and other works of the same title would seem in order. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.111.247.2 (talk) 20:45, 29 January 2010 (UTC)

reception

The film performed poorly at the box office and was in general not critically acclaimed.
The reference given doesn't confirm nor undermine that assumption. totoeoe (talk) 18:39, 2 October 2011 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.14.202.92 (talk)

Material

While playing chess on Washington Square, Kubrick met producer James B. Harris, who was looking for a young new talent to produce for, having sold his film distribution company. Harris considered Kubrick to be "the most intelligent, most creative person I have ever come in contact with", and the two formed the Harris-Kubrick Pictures Corporation in 1955. Harris purchased the rights to Lionel White novel Clean Break for $10,000, beating United Artists who were interested in the film as the next picture for Frank Sinatra, and who eventually settled for financing $200,000 towards the production. Upon Kubrick's suggestion, they hired film noir novelist Jim Thompson to write the script for the film, which would become The Killing (1956), about a meticulously planned racetrack robbery gone wrong. The film starred Sterling Hayden, whom Kubrick had been impressed with in The Asphalt Jungle (1950). Kubrick and Harris moved to Los Angeles from New York and signed with the Jaffe Agency to shoot the picture which became Kubrick's first full-length feature film shot with a professional cast and crew. The Union in Hollywood stated that Kubrick would not be permitted to be both the director and cinematographer of the movie, so veteran cinematographer Lucien Ballard was hired for the shooting. Kubrick agreed to waive his fee for the production, which was shot in just 24 days on a budget of $330,000. He clashed with Ballard during the shooting, and on one occasion Kubrick threatened to fire Ballard following a camera dispute, despite being only 27 years old at the time and 20 years Ballard's junior. Hayden recalled that Kubrick was "cold and detached. Very mechanical, always confident. I've worked with few directors who are that good". The Killing failed to secure a proper release across the United States, and it was only at the last minute that it was promoted as a second feature to Bandido! (1956), and failed to make money. Several critics, however, did notice the film, with the reviewer from Time comparing Kubrick's work to Orson Welles, and likening Kubrick's camera work to the "keen eye of a terrier stalking a pack of rats". Kubrick was delighted to learn that a handful of critics compared his work to Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950). The film's non-linear narrative and clinical execution had a major influence on later directors, including Quentin Tarantino, and many contemporary critics regard this film as one of his best. Although Kubrick and Harris had thought that the positive reception from critics had made their presence known in Hollywood, Max Youngstein of United Artists still considered them to be "Not far from the bottom" of the pool of new talent at the time,. On the contrary, Dore Schary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was impressed with the film, and offered the duo $75,000 to write, direct and produce a film, which became Paths of Glory (1957).

slight contradiction in terms...

In the 'production' section there lives the line...

At Kubrick's suggestion they hired film noir novelist Jim Thompson to write the script.

I would like to change this to 'hardboiled fiction novelist', as there can't really be any such thing as a 'film noir novel', as 'film noir' applies to, well, film. Any objections to my changing this?203.220.186.11 (talk) 22:43, 15 August 2016 (UTC)

strange line

Aside from Hayden, with whom he had been impressed while shooting The Asphalt Jungle, Kubrick cast actors from film noirs he had liked

This line makes little sense, as Kubrick had nothing to do with the 'shooting' of The Asphalt Jungle.203.220.186.11 (talk) 22:48, 15 August 2016 (UTC)

Error in Plot outline

In the outline of the plot, Johnny Clay is said to be planning the heist. He is the daring protagonist, but not the mastermind. That is an important facet of the story. Johnny is recruited because of his prior record, and for the reason that the planner doesn't have the traits necessary. It will take a tough, quick, athletic, steady and determined man, all traits of Johnny's. Kubrick new what he was doing.

Interview with the Producer

Criterion put up an interview with the producer: youtu.be/jQwRW7E2-Mk --91.5.109.82 (talk) 07:11, 12 December 2022 (UTC)