The Killers (1964)

You won't be disappointed!

People are voting emotionally.

Good movie but grossly overrated

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Fine acting, a twisted plot, gorgeous cinematography and a tight script all combine to make as near-perfect a thriller as you could expect.

Developer Jack Browning (Ronald Reagan) plans a daring armored truck robbery but comes up short as the wheel man during a rehearsal. His doll Sheila (Angie Dickinson) contacts an old squeeze and one time promising race driver Johnny North (John Cassavettes) for the assignment but he still has feelings for Sheila, creating discord between him and Browning. The job goes without a hitch but the after plan haywire with betrayal and whacks. The Killers is a reworking of the 48 Siodmak classic where the title characters instead of an insurance agent search for answers. It may lack Siodmak's lush compositions of informing ambiance but it does have Don Siegel's healthy pace editorial skills that keeps the film on a continuous roll as the double cross keeps all involved off balance, the pursuit non-stop. Sexy as Dickinson is she does not have Ava Gardner's smooth fatale chops, her seductive powers somewhat stilted. Cassavettes tends to overacting while the image of the 40th President of the United States acting surly and slapping Angie around is jarring in a variety of ways. Lee Marvin's stone cold killer with a curious side takes the acting honors but watching veteran minor player Claude Akins stretch more than usual in one brief scene deserves mention as well.As noir's go The Killers 64 lacks the light and shadow monochrome of the 48 original as its color stock lights up interiors like a supermarket. What does make it unique is the total absence of a hero in its last man standing scenario where the deep cynicism of all involved never lifts.

I have seen this film many times,and I have never tired of it..considering it was made for TV, somehow the film got into the movies,the cast is top class.It was not even called the Killers in the USA.Lee Marvin and Clu Gulager are contract killers...who get curious about one of their hits,they are breaking the hitmans code ,but smell a big payoff...the cast is classy with the beautiful Angie Dickenson at the height of her powers, throw in Ronald Reagan as the top crook with the superb John Cassavetes as the fall guy and the sparks fly.Clu Gulager was a great actor and in this film plays a very believable second string to Lee Marvins relentless and merciless killer.Throw in some great car scenes,and a cool ending,and you have a very enjoyable movie,with sub themes of greed, betrayal,and unrequited love.All in all a classic,very watchable,and you cant say that about many 1960s made for TV movies ..Super film.

This remake of the classic film with the same name (1946) by Robert Siodmak deals with two hired killers (Lee Marvin , Clu Gulager in similar role to William Conrad and Charles McGraw) who murder a man (John Cassavetes replacing Burt Lancaster) at a blind school . The cold-bloody assassins look into his past and by means flashbacks , attempting to solve leads as to why their victim calmly waits for his death and find tracks to a 100.000 dollars robbery . The gunmen discovering his involvement with crime boss (Ronald Reagan , alike role Alfred Dekkker ) and the gangster's moll (Angie Dickinson in the character of Ava Gardner).This noir film packs action , thrills, suspense, tension , thundering drama and a mighty punch in some exciting scenes . It's loosely based very vaguely on a short story by Ernest Hemingway and originally pretended for television but exhibited to the cinemas due a its lots of violence . This thrilling story with intricate argument plenty of turns and twists , revolves around two assassins revealing surprise after surprise . Noteworthy portrayals come from menacing Ronald Reagan as a racketeer in his last movie, and of course Lee Marvin and Clu Gulager give towering performances as the gunfighters . There's also a magnificent action from John Cassavetes in the pivotal role and Angie Dickinson as gorgeous Femme Fatale and shooting to stardom in one of his first films . Atmospheric musical score by John Williams , subsequently famous as composer of Steven Spielberg films . Rating : Better than average . It's a good film that ensures the nervous intrigue never lets up from the first moment and realized in efficient style by Donald Siegel , then at the peak of his Hollywood career and future author of Charly Varrick, Coogan's bluff and Dirty Harry and sequels. Well worth watching .