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The Killers (1946) Movie Review

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Actors: Edmond O'Brien, Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Albert Dekker, Sam Levene, Jack Lambert
Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Killers (1946)
THE KILLERS is a movie produced by Mark Hellinger and directed by Robert Siodmak in 1946. The picture earned four nominations for the Academy Awards.

Burt -the Swede- Lancaster is executed by two killers in Brentwood, New Jersey. Edmond O'Brien, a detective at Lancaster's insurance company, will investigate the reasons why he's been killed. He'll eventually discover that the Swede was involved in an important robbery a few years before with Albert -Colmax- Dekker. Before that heist, the Swede, retired from the boxing business, had just spent two years in prison in order to protect his girl-friend Ava Gardner. During this period, Ava had become Colmax's girl. Has Colmax suddenly decided to get rid of his former associate because he believed that it was the Swede who stole $250,000?

--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar




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Analysis of The Killers (1946)
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Plot
Time/era of movie: - 1930's-1950's
Crime & Scandal Yes
Story of - criminals stealing from other criminals - criminals killing each other

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - private investigator
Age: - 20's-30's
Hair type - (man) short/standard straight
Body type - (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor? - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Secondary Main Character
Identity: - Male
Hair style - (man) short/standard wavey
Body type - (man) muscular
Unclothed? - chest
How much in movie? - 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - 40%
Hair type - (man) short/standard straight
Body type - (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast - Midwest
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting - prison - sports arena

Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Movie makes you feel... - depressed/sad
Check here if B&W Yes
Is this movie based on a - book
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