One of the greatest film noir in the history of cinema with Insurance on the Death of Billy Wilder
New HD restoration
In Brentwood, a small town in New Jersey, two hitmen arrive with the sole purpose of killing Pete Lunn, a former boxer. In his hotel room, the latter bides his time and is coldly killed by several bullets in the body. When James Reardon is assigned by the insurance company to conduct his own investigation, Pete's past and well-kept secrets resurface...
The Killers confirms the importance of Robert Siodmak in the world of film noir. Largely impregnated by the German expressionist style, its aesthetic alone reveals a whole iconography of the genre. Around an implacable scenario adapted from a short story by Ernest Hemingway, Siodmak imposes Burt Lancaster in his first role on screen, offers Ava Gardner her best role as a bitch and dazzlingly demystifies the American dream.
“It is undoubtedly Robert Siodmak's most interesting 'film noir', as fascinating in its subject as in its construction. The beginning alone is an unforgettable moment. The night. A small town: Brentwood. Two men arrive. As soon as they appear in the local snack bar, it is obvious that they are dangerous men, not afraid of a fight and even fond of provoking it. They came to kill a man they don't even know. They are performing a contract. They are professionals, killers. […] The idea for the film came from Mark Hellinger (the producer) who bought the rights to Ernest Hemingway's short story and chose, for lack of being able to afford neither Wayne Morris, who was too expensive, nor Sonny Tufts, Burt Lancaster who had not made any films at the time. »
Patrick BRION, Le Film Noir
THE KILLERS
(1946 – B&W – 98 mins)
new HD restoration
EXTRAS (BLU-RAY)
. HEMINGWAY / SIODMAK (23 mins)
From Hemingway's short story to Siodmak's film noir, a study of the adaptation of The Killers by Marguerite Chabrol, film teacher at the University of Paris X.
. INTERVIEW WITH HERVÉ DUMONT (16 mins)
A return to the genesis, themes and aesthetics of The Killers by Hervé Dumont, Director of the Cinémathèque Suisse and author of the essay Robert Siodmak, Le maître du film noir .
. EXPRESSIONISM IN BLACK AND WHITE (16 mn)
A reading of the film through the music of Miklós Rózsa by Christian Lauliac, specialist in film music.
. THE BOXER WITHOUT CONFESSION (15 mins)
An analysis of the place of the character of Burt Lancaster at the heart of the funereal aesthetics of film noir by Pierre Berthomieu, a specialist in Hollywood cinema.
. "THE KILLERS" RADIO VERSION (30 mn)
A radio adaptation set in pictures with Burt Lancaster and Shelley Winters in the title roles.
. "THE KILLERS" BY ANDREÏ TARKOVSKI (1956 – B&W – 21 mn)
Andrei Tarkovsky's first student short film. A faithful adaptation of the short story The Killers by Ernest Hemingway.
. TRAILER
DVD EDITION
INCLUDED TRAILERS
* in HD on the Blu-ray version
Released October 8, 2014 (Blu-ray)
Released May 2012 (DVD single)
