Cheap Kiss of Death (Video) (Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy) (Henry Hathaway) Price

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Customer Reviews of Kiss of Death

What A Film Debut!
Kiss of Death is a crime thriller that kept me more involved then I was expecting. Perhaps it's the fact that the Victor Mature character is pretty sympathetic. Mature (a better actor than he was given credit for) plays the internal conflicts of his character with a lot of conviction. The location filming and the straightforward direction help to add a lot of realism to the film. The supporting cast, with the exception of Colleen Gray, contribute good performances. But it's Richard Widmark, in his film debut, that leaves the strongest impression. His giggling, psychopathic killer Tommy Udo is one of the most memorable characters you'll ever see, and the wheelchair scene is justifiably famous. Kiss of Death is a gripping crime drama.

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Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Tommy Udo
The Sylvester Stallone of his time, Victor Mature was regarded as little more than a joke until his fine performance in the crime drama "Kiss of Death." Unfortunately for Mature, a New York stage actor was making his film debut in the Henry Hathaway directed thriller, and "Kiss of Death" remains famous for having introduced Richard Widmark to film audiences. As the giggling, psychopathic Tommy Udo (is there a true film buff anywhere in the world unfamiliar with that name?), Widmark would create a character much imitated in the years that followed, though still not surpassed for cruelty. It is in this film that Widmark pushes an old lady tied into her wheelchair down a flight of stairs, maniacally cackling as she makes her way to the bottom. The scene is still quite chilling, and there isn't a moment nearly as memorable in the adequate 1995 remake with Nicolas Cage and David Caruso taking over for Widmark and Mature. The rest of this original "Kiss of Death" holds up pretty well, too.

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"I wouldn't give you the skin off a grape."
In the film "Kiss of Death", when Nick Bianco (Victor Mature) is sentenced to 20 years in prison for a botched armed robbery, he arrogantly rejects Asst DA Louie DeAngelo's (Brian Donlevy) deal to squeal on his accomplices, and Bianco states that he'll take care of his family "his way". But after a few years in prison and after his wife's suicide, Bianco's two young daughters are stuck in an orphanage. And then Bianco decides to deal with the DA....

"Kiss of Death" includes some stunning performances. Most notable is Richard Widmark as Tommy Ugo ("you know what I do to squealers?"). Widmark is remarkably chilling as the young thug who giggles his way through violence and killing. A few casual scenes with Ugo in a nightclub are convincing enough to anticipate Ugo's ultimate showdown with Bianco. Donlevy is the ethical DA whose hands are tied at crucial moments--he's a man just trying to do a job he believes in. Victor Mature is well cast as Nick Bianco--the man who started off on the wrong path in life, but he loves his children and wants to ensure their safety. The final scene of the film is one of the most suspenseful I've ever seen.

On another note--I was taken by surprise when Donlevy announces that Ugo as a three-time loser will be sent up for life. Apparently the three-time loser thing is not a new idea by any means. Also of interest--some of the film was actually filmed in Sing-Sing. For Film Noir fans, I recommend "Kiss of Death"--it was an excellent film--displacedhuman.