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		The Killers
The Killers The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links Compositions: Films Previous: Gidget Goes to Rome Next: None But the Brave Chronological filmography Alphabetical filmography Television films Miscellanea		The Film Release date: July 17, 1964 Studio: Revue Studios/Universal Studios Running time: 95 minutes Director: Don Siegel Cast: Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, John Cassevetes, Clu Gulager, Claude Akins, Norman Fell, Ronald Reagan, Virginia Christine, Don Haggerty, Robert Phillips, Kathleen O'Malley, Ted Jacques, Irvin Mosley, Jimmy Joyce, Davis Roberts, Hall Brock, Burt Mustin, Peter Hobbs, John Copage, Tyler McVey, Seymour Cassel, Scott Hale Technical information: color A remake of the the 1946 film of the same name (which in turn was loosely based on Ernest Hemingway's (very) short story), The Killers almost made TV history as the first made-for-television movie; it was produced by Universal's Revue Studios for NBC's Project 120. But the uncompromising violence was unacceptable to the network censors and the film was given a theatrical release instead. Two ruthless hit men (Marvin and Gulager), gun down a former race-car driver named Johnny North (Cassevetes). Puzzled by North's acceptance of his own death, and aware that North was involved in a million dollar bank heist, they head to Miami to interrogate Earl Sylvester (Akins), North's mechanic; through a flashback we learn how North became involved with a woman named Sheila Farr (Dickinson), had a career-ending accident, and discovered that Sheila was the mistress of crime boss Jack Browning (Reagan, in his final film role). The killers next visit Browning's right-hand man (Fell), who tells how North became involved in the bank job as a driver and how he supposedly ran off with the loot. The trail ends in Los Angeles with Browning and Sheila, where the killers finally learn the whereabouts of the money and try to steal it themselves. The film tends to slow down during the flashback sequences, but is compelling whenever Marvin and Gulager are on screen. Director Don Siegel adds some stylish touches and makes the most of the meager production values.
The Killers The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		The Music Music Score: Johnny Williams Songs: "Too Little Time," by Henry Mancini and Don Ray Sung by: Nancy Wilson Music Supervision: Stanley Wilson Johnny Williams was under contract to Revue Studios at the time this film was made, scoring anthology programs like Kraft Suspense Theater. The jazzy, ominous title music was tracked from Henry Mancini's score for Touch of Evil; a song Mancini originally wrote for The Glenn Miller Story is sung in its entirety on screen by Nancy Wilson (either because it conveniently belonged to the studio, or because the title is a play on Marvin's catch phrase, "I don't have the time.") Williams's score uses instrumental versions of this melody for the love scenes between Cassavetes and Dickinson. Most of the rest of the music is well-crafted, but nondescript, not unlike the scores Williams was providing for Kraft Suspense Theater. Of special note are a humorous cue for a go-cart race early in the film and exciting music for the robbery scene. What makes this latter cue so effective is the absence of music during two "dry runs" of the car chase earlier in the film — this heightens the suspense during the final chase even further. Variety commented that "assets to the production are contributed by…composer Johnny Williams. A song, 'Too Little Time' by Henry Mancini and Don Raye, is sung by Nancy Wilson. On first hearing, it doesn't make a very strong impression."
		Audio No original soundtrack album was released for this film, although Mancini's tracked main and end titles can be found on the Touch of Evil soundtrack (available on CD from Varese Sarabande Records) and his song "Too Little Time" is featured on a number of compilation albums.  The Criterion DVD release of the film (see below) features an isolated music and effects track.
		Video The film has been issued on VHS (MCA 55014) and was released on Laserdisc only as a Japanese import (with subtitles).  More recently, on February 18, 2003, the Criterion Collection released a 2-DVD set that includes the original 1946 film along with the 1964 remake (Criterion CC1583D — purchase).
The Killers The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		References "Film Reviews: The Killers," Tube. Variety, May ?? 1964 "Review: The Killers," Eugene Archer New York Times, Jul 18 1964, 10:2
The Killers The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		Links Internet Movie Database entry for The Killers Cinebooks Database entry for The Killers All Movie Guide entry for The Killers
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