Comments on: DVD Spotlight: The Killers http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/05/18/dvd-spotlight-the-killers/ Analysis and reviews of films from around the world. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:05:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Joe Campanella http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/05/18/dvd-spotlight-the-killers/#comment-904 Joe Campanella Mon, 19 May 2008 21:27:34 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=296#comment-904 I love both the 46 version and the 64. They both, as you say, are a product of their time. If I had to pick my favorite femme fatale ever, it'd have to be Anne Savage in DETOUR. She's sexy and nasty and shrill. God I love crime films. I love both the 46 version and the 64. They both, as you say, are a product of their time.

If I had to pick my favorite femme fatale ever, it’d have to be Anne Savage in DETOUR. She’s sexy and nasty and shrill. God I love crime films.

]]> By: Rick http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/05/18/dvd-spotlight-the-killers/#comment-901 Rick Mon, 19 May 2008 14:34:45 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=296#comment-901 That is a great scene ... you're right, she's a fabulous femme fatale. As far as noirs of that period go, this is right up near the top of my list as well (it certainly is the best-looking), but the tip of my hat has to go to "The Third Man," if only because of Welles' Harry Lime. That is a great scene … you’re right, she’s a fabulous femme fatale. As far as noirs of that period go, this is right up near the top of my list as well (it certainly is the best-looking), but the tip of my hat has to go to “The Third Man,” if only because of Welles’ Harry Lime.

]]> By: Jonathan Lapper http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/05/18/dvd-spotlight-the-killers/#comment-898 Jonathan Lapper Mon, 19 May 2008 12:32:22 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=296#comment-898 I've only seen the Hollywood 46 version but I love it. It's probably one of my favorite noirs. I love Gardner, pleading with her dying husband at the end to get her off the hook, not caring about him dying, just her own freedom. It's such an incredibly selfish moment it almost (maybe it does) make her character the best femme fatale ever. I’ve only seen the Hollywood 46 version but I love it. It’s probably one of my favorite noirs. I love Gardner, pleading with her dying husband at the end to get her off the hook, not caring about him dying, just her own freedom. It’s such an incredibly selfish moment it almost (maybe it does) make her character the best femme fatale ever.

]]> By: Rick http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/05/18/dvd-spotlight-the-killers/#comment-897 Rick Mon, 19 May 2008 12:25:08 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=296#comment-897 Seems like a stretch to me ... in <i>noir</i> the guy who falls for the femme fatale has a blind spot for beautiful women; remember the line in "Body Heat," Kathleen Turner to William Hurt: "You aren't too smart; I like that in a man." I think Lancaster's character is none too bright because of noir conventions and that he's a boxer (stereotypically sub-par intelligence) ... nationality would be far down the list. Seems like a stretch to me … in noir the guy who falls for the femme fatale has a blind spot for beautiful women; remember the line in “Body Heat,” Kathleen Turner to William Hurt: “You aren’t too smart; I like that in a man.”

I think Lancaster’s character is none too bright because of noir conventions and that he’s a boxer (stereotypically sub-par intelligence) … nationality would be far down the list.

]]> By: Pam http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/05/18/dvd-spotlight-the-killers/#comment-896 Pam Mon, 19 May 2008 11:54:21 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=296#comment-896 I wonder about your phrase "brawny stupidity" regarding the Swede. Is this caricature intentional on the film maker's part, is it in the Hemingway short story? I remember my grandparents (Norwegians) referring to the Swedes as "large and stupid" and the Swedes saying the same things about the Norwegians. It was certainly reflective of the on-going prejudice in the Norwegian communities here in the States and possibly indicative of Norway's struggle for independence. I wonder about your phrase “brawny stupidity” regarding the Swede. Is this caricature intentional on the film maker’s part, is it in the Hemingway short story? I remember my grandparents (Norwegians) referring to the Swedes as “large and stupid” and the Swedes saying the same things about the Norwegians. It was certainly reflective of the on-going prejudice in the Norwegian communities here in the States and possibly indicative of Norway’s struggle for independence.

]]>