Except for the stunning but a bit implausible end,"kiss of death" is close to perfect.Hathaway was anything by sentimental (except maybe in his romantic dream "Peter Ibetson" )and his "kiss of death " is a film noir extraordinaire .The story is partly told by Nattie's voice over ,a voice who tells us in the first minutes that if the hero acts as he does,he has no choice cause all his attempts at getting a job have failed.
In this cruel world,Hathaway introduces quiet lovely scenes:the music lesson in the orphanage is a great moment which sharply contrasts with the rest of the movie.The cast is first rate: Mature who was certainly more intelligent than he was given credit for plays a good guy down on his luck and who tries to pick up the pieces and to enjoy a home with his daughters and his new wife;Donlevy gives a subtle performance ,and it's he who gives the kiss of death of the title;and last but not least,the absolutely outstanding Richard Widmark,who steals every scene he is in:his laugh is unforgettable,and the scene with Rizzo's disabled mother is in anyone's memory.
No clichés,no femme fatale,no heroes,but a human being trying to survive in the urban jungle.The last part of the film is almost Hitchcockesque:Nick and his wife,in the night,fearing anything: a door which slams,a car in the streets ,a shadow on the wall."Wherever we were,HE would be waiting,waiting".
Another great movie by Hathaway as brilliant in film noir as he was in adventure movies ("lives of a Bengal lancer")
In this cruel world,Hathaway introduces quiet lovely scenes:the music lesson in the orphanage is a great moment which sharply contrasts with the rest of the movie.The cast is first rate: Mature who was certainly more intelligent than he was given credit for plays a good guy down on his luck and who tries to pick up the pieces and to enjoy a home with his daughters and his new wife;Donlevy gives a subtle performance ,and it's he who gives the kiss of death of the title;and last but not least,the absolutely outstanding Richard Widmark,who steals every scene he is in:his laugh is unforgettable,and the scene with Rizzo's disabled mother is in anyone's memory.
No clichés,no femme fatale,no heroes,but a human being trying to survive in the urban jungle.The last part of the film is almost Hitchcockesque:Nick and his wife,in the night,fearing anything: a door which slams,a car in the streets ,a shadow on the wall."Wherever we were,HE would be waiting,waiting".
Another great movie by Hathaway as brilliant in film noir as he was in adventure movies ("lives of a Bengal lancer")