Noir Alley: Eddie Muller on The Killing (1956)

Killing, The (1956) -- (Movie Clip) These Two Other Guys

Ex-con Johnny (Sterling Hayden) briefing his cohorts, Joe Sawyer as Mike, Ted de Corsia as cop Randy, Jay C. Flippen as Marvin and Elisha Cook as racetrack employee George, whose wife Sherry (Marie Windsor) turns out to be listening-in, in Stanley Kubrick’s heist drama The Killing, 1956.

Killing, The (1956) -- (Movie Clip) Meatball With Gravy

Sherry (Marie Windsor), having just heard from her milquetoast husband about the plan to rob the racetrack, visits Val (Vince Edwards) whom we learn is her lover, wondering after a fade to black how they might profit, in Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing, 1956, starring Sterling Hayden.

Killing, The (1956) -- (Movie Clip) He Was Totally Disinterested

Following credits at the Bay Meadows track in San Mateo, California, director Stanley Kubrick with Art Gilmore’s narration, written by Jim Thompson from the Lionel White novel, introducing conspirators Jay C. Flippen, Joe Sawyer the barkeep, Elisha Cook at the window, in The Killing, 1956.

Killing, The (1956) -- (Movie Clip) Shooting Horses Out Of Season

Director Stanley Kubrick introduces the notorious character actor and occasional filmmaker Timothy Carey (who would co-star in Kubrick’s Paths Of Glory, 1962) as gunman Nikki, interviewed by Sterling Hayden as ex-con Johnny, setting up the racetrack robbery in The Killing, 1956.

Killing, The (1956) -- (Movie Clip) None Of These Men Are Criminals

Continuing narration (Art Gilmore from Jim Thompson’s script) we meet Johnny (Sterling Hayden), speaking in notably similar style, with girlfriend Fay (Coleen Gray), and more exposition as co-conspirator Unger (Jay C. Flippen) joins them, in Stanley Kubrick’s acclaimed The Killing, 1956.