Kiss of Death

US (1947): Crime/Drama/Film-Noir

Small-time crook Nick Bianco (Victor Mature) gets caught in a jewel heist and despite urgings from well-meaning district attorney Louie D'Angelo (Brian Donlevy), refuses to rat on his partners and goes to jail, assured that his wife and children will be taken care of. Learning that his depressed wife has killed herself, Nick informs on his ex-pals and is paroled. Nick remarries, gets a job and begins leading a happy life when he learns one of the men he informed on, psychopathic killer Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark in his film debut), has been released from custody and is out for revenge against Nick and his family. The scene where Udo pushes an elderly, wheelchair-bound woman down a flight of stairs is just as shocking today as it was in 1947. Henry Hathaway directs this Ben Hecht-Charles Lederer screenplay. Filmed on location in New York. Cast also includes Coleen Gray, Taylor Holmes, Karl Malden and Mildred Dunnock. (20th Century-Fox) (IMDb)

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2 nominations