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The Killing (1956)

Approved  |   |  Crime, Film-Noir, Thriller  |  6 June 1956 (USA)
8.1
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Ratings: 8.1/10 from 57,827 users  
Reviews: 353 user | 133 critic

Crooks plan and execute a daring race-track robbery.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (dialogue), 1 more credit »
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Title: The Killing (1956)

The Killing (1956) on IMDb 8.1/10

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Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. See more awards »

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A religious fanatic marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real daddy hid $10,000 he'd stolen in a robbery.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Fay
...
...
...
Policeman Randy Kennan (as Ted DeCorsia)
...
...
George Peatty (as Elisha Cook)
Joe Sawyer ...
Mike O'Reilly
James Edwards ...
Track Parking Attendant
...
Nikki Arcane
Kola Kwariani ...
Jay Adler ...
Leo the Loanshark
Tito Vuolo ...
Joe Piano
...
Mrs. Ruthie O'Reilly
Herbert Ellis ...
2nd American Airlines Clerk
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Storyline

After getting out of prison, Johnny Clay masterminds a complex race-track heist, but his scheme is complicated by the intervention of the wife of a teller (George Peatty) in on the scheme, the boyfriend of the wife, airport regulations, and a small dog. Written by Andrew Hyatt <dres@uiuc.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

These 5 Men Had a $2,000,000 Secret Until One of them told this Woman! See more »


Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

6 June 1956 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Bed of Fear  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$320,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The total budget for the film was $320,000. United Artists put up $200,000 and he rest was raised by producer James B. Harris. This was a paltry budget for a feature even by 1950s "B" picture standards. See more »

Goofs

When Peatty fixes his wive a drink, you can briefly see the studio above where the ceiling of the set ends. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: At exactly 3:45 on that Saturday afternoon in the last week of September, Marvin Unger was, perhaps, the only one among the hundred thousand people at the track who felt no thrill at the running of the fifth race. He was totally disinterested in horse racing and held a lifelong contempt for gambling. Nevertheless, he had a $5 win bet on every horse in the fifth race. He knew, of course, that this rather unique system of betting would more than likely result in a loss, but he didn't...
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Amélie (2001) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

Crackling heist story that will have you glued to your seat
9 August 1998 | by (Missouri) – See all my reviews

There's little to fault in Stanley Kubrick's classic robbery tale. The acting is first-rate with Marie Windsor, as Mrs. Peaty, a sarcastic stand-out. The story just pops off the screen - and at less than 90 minutes, there's literally no filler. I love the winding time line ("earlier that day" etc.), which has been liberally utilized by Quentin Tarantino (Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs). This film was made right before Kubrick's WWI marvel, Paths of Glory, and his genius is apparent in both. No wasted words or actions. Love that last line!


57 of 83 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Would the charge be murder ? tallgiraffe876
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