Kiss of Death (1947)

Kiss of Death
Directed by Henry Hathaway
Written by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer; story by Eleazar Lipsky
1947/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

Tommy Udo: I wouldn’t give you the skin off a grape.

This one is famous as Richard Widmark’s film debut but is a satisfying film noir in all respects.

Nick Bianco (Victor Mature), an ex-con and born loser, is forced to work yet one more hold-up to buy his kids Christmas presents.  When he is the only one caught in a jewelry store heist, Assistant DA Louis D’Angelo (Brian Donlevy) offers him a deal to snitch on his fellow gang members but Nick refuses to talk.  He trusts the gang’s pledge to look after his family and get him out on parole.  After a couple of years in stir, Nick’s wife commits suicide and his children are sent to an orphanage. He is now more than willing to tell all.

D’Angelo arranges to arrest him for an old crime committed by the same gang and to pin the tag of squealer on gang leader Rizzo.  The gang quickly shows how it deals with rats when it puts grinning hit man Tommy Udo (Widmark) on the case.  He can’t locate Rizzo so he settles for pushing Rizzo’s wheelchair-bound mother down the stairs in one of the most memorable murders in cinema history.

Nick is released on parole and settles down to happy married life with his kids and their ex-babysitter (Coleen Gray).  Then D’Angelo makes another offer Nick cannot refuse.  He wants him to help set up Tommy Udo.  Nick, who had previously known Tommy in jail, befriends him and gets him to confess to another murder and its details while high. D’Angelo demands that Nick testify at Tommy’s trial.  Nick balks but D’Angelo assures him that the case is airtight.

Of course, Tommy is acquitted and Nick is now in fear for the lives of his entire family.  Nick gives up on D’Angelo’s assurances of police protection and takes matters into his own hands.

Richard Widmark reportedly based his portrayal of Tommy Udo on the improvisational style of jazz music.  However he did it, his maniacal laugh is unforgettable.  This is probably one of the most effective over-the-top performances of all time.  He was stuck with this kind of character for several films but later the world would know what a versatile actor he was.

Less acknowledged is Victor Mature’s superb performance in Kiss of Death.  His Nick is a complex blend of stoic fatalism, tenderness, and repressed rage and really carries the film. Cinematographer Norbert Brodine’s low-key lighting is also up there with the best in the genre.  Recommended.

Widmark was Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actor.  Kiss of Death was also nominated for Best Writing, Original Story.

Trailer