Born to Kill (1947)

This is one of the benchmark movies that define film noir. If you can’t quite get a handle on what exactly film noir is, watch Born to Kill and you shouldn’t have any problems recognizing it in the future.

Born to Kill has a superb script that moves the viewer effortlessly from beginning to end through a complex maze of deceit, murder, and twisted motives coming from the various characters that make up the cast. The script was adapted by Eve Green from the James Gunn novel, “Deadlier Than the Male.” According to director Robert Wise (The Day the Earth Stood Still, Run Silent, Run Deep) a good script makes the director’s job easy. Of course, he didn’t tell how difficult it is to find a good script, but judging from the content of the majority of movies we see, apparently it is about as easy as finding a four leaf clover.

The script is very balanced and gives both the headliners and the small parts emphasis. All the characters seem three dimensional, grounded, and real - their relationships well established by a few brief interactions. The script rapidly moves us through all the tangled web of human failings including divorce, alcoholism, promiscuity, gambling, murder, and aiding and abetting criminal acts, all in the first few moments.

Claire Trevor (Raw Deal, Key Largo) the biggest star in the production, is Helen, a newly divorced woman in Reno. Helen was staying at a boarding house while her divorce was pending but now it’s time to go back to San Francisco. She asks for her bill from the lively, beer-swilling matron Mrs. Kraft (Esther Howard) who is visiting with her friend, the young and beautiful Laury (Isabel Jewell) who is discussing how to make her newest beau jealous, a decision that is going to cost her.

Lawrence Tierney (Dillinger) is Sam, the other key player in this drama. Sam’s friend is played by none other than Elisha Cook, Jr., (The Maltese Falcon, The Killing) who made a career out of playing interesting criminal types. I really don’t want to go into much more of the story because it is certain to take you off guard if you decide to watch it for yourself, and I hope you do.

The direction is marvelous, with most of the story being depicted as much by the beautifully shot images as the sparkling dialog. As I said, the script is among the very best and for the cinematography we can thank Robert de Grasse, with a deft editor’s eye and hand from Robert Wise, who also edited the phenomenal Citizen Kane. The fine dramatic score is courtesy of Paul Sawtell, and it punctuates the movie very well indeed.

A word about the actors; Lawrence Tierney is probably about the most believable bad guy who I’ve ever seen play in movies. Apart from being big, strapping, and handsome, he exudes an undercurrent of menace that has seldom been equaled. Either Bogey or Mitchum (two guys who specialized in hardboiled roles) would not be in the same league as a badass - I would say the only guy I would put up against Lawrence Tierney for this quality would be Ray Danton - and that would be maybe.

Tierney also was quite a handful to work with, according to reports of his drinking and brawling, therefore, most directors refused to work with him and he was forced to seek work elsewhere.

I’m glad these old Tierney films like Dillinger and Born to Kill have been preserved because it is really a pleasure, if unsettling, to watch him go through his moves. Claire Trevor, of course, is one of the best actresses to ever trod the boards, and is a staple of these film noir movies, having participated in several classics. In this one, she is a femme fatale of the highest caliber, reaching the almost unattainable standard set by Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity.

The supporting performances were all bravura, with actors like Elisha Cook, Jr., Isabel Jewell, Walter Slezak, and Phillip Terry (Lost Weekend). Director Robert Wise used all of the actors with great skill and finesse. If I sound like I’m crowing about this movie, I guess I am. Born to Kill is about as good as it gets.

The Warner Bros DVD is presented in B&W, in 1.33:1 theatrical format, and the well-preserved movie runs 92 minutes. There is a very informative commentary by film critic/author Eddie Muller and Director Robert Wise included as an extra feature. Subtitles are also included.

Crime drama and film noir fans will really like this.

Thanks for reading!

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening