“Kiss Me Deadly” (1955) directed by Robert Aldrich; starring Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart and Juano Hernandez / Z-View
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Director: Robert Aldrich
Screenplay: A.I. Bezzerides, Robert Aldrich (uncredited); based on KISS ME DEADLY by Mickey Spillane.
Stars: Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Juano Hernandez, Marjorie Bennett, Strother Martin and Jack Elam.
Tagline: Blood red kisses! White hot thrills! Mickey Spillane’s latest H-bomb!
The Plot…
Driving home late one evening, Mike Hammer nearly runs over a woman in the middle of the road. She’s barefoot and wearing just a trenchcoat. Hammer stops. The woman is running from someone but doesn’t say who.
Hammer gives her a lift, but soon thugs catch up to them. The last thing Hammer hears is the woman’s scream. When he wakes up, he’s in the hospital. The goons killed the woman, then threw her and Hammer’s unconscious body in the car before pushing it over the cliff.
Hammer believes whatever the woman was involved in was “something big”. Plus he wants payback.
Hammer’s going to get answers he couldn’t have imagined and find himself the target of a crime syndicate after the result of a top secret government experiment.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Although based on Mickey Spillane’s novel of the same name, the film makes changes to Hammer as well as the plot. In the film, Hammer is a sleazy LA PI who never uses a gun; instead of a fearless NY private eye. In the film, Hammer finds himself in international intrigue with a suitcase containing stolen atomic material. In the book, Hammer is up against the Mafia after a suitcase of heroin.
Kiss Me Deadly features Cloris Leachman’s first theatrical film role.
The haunting ending will stay with you long after the film ends.
Kiss Me Deadly (1955) rates 4 of 5 stars.
