Lawrence Tierney is “Born to Kill”

Born to Kill (1947) is an American film noir directed by Robert Wise and starring Lawrence Tierney, Claire Trevor, and Walter Slezak. The supporting cast includes Esther Howard, Elisha Cook Jr. Philip Terry, and Audrey Long. The cinematography was by Robert De Grasse (Stage Door, Carefree, Kitty Foyle).

After obtaining her divorce in Reno, Nevada, San Francisco socialite Helen Brent (Trevor) meets Sam Wilde (Tierney), a mysterious man who intrigues her. Little does she know that he is responsible for two murders.

Wilde follows Helen back to San Francisco and begins to court Helen’s sister Georgia (Long). Helen believes Sam is marrying Georgia for her money. Georgia inherited the largest newspaper in the city and lives in a beautiful mansion. Sam quickly convinces Georgia to marry him and that’s when the trouble starts.

 

Lawrence Tierney and Claire Trevor

Robert Wise (1914 - 2000) was an American director, producer, and editor. Wise began his movie career at RKO as a sound and music editor. For several years, he worked with senior editor William Hamilton. Wise’s first solo film editing credits were on Bachelor Mother (1939) and My Favorite Wife (1940). He was the film editor on Citizen Kane and was nominated for an Academy Award for Film Editing. Wise got his chance to direct at RKO from Val Lewton, the producer of horror classics like Cat People (1942). The Curse of the Cat People (1944) was the first film that Wise received director credit for. He eventually directed films noir, westerns, melodramas, and science fiction. Some popular films directed by Wise include The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Executive Suite (1954), I Want to Live! (1958), which earned Wise his first Oscar nomination for Best Director. He went on to win Best Director Oscars for West Side Story (1961) and The Sound of Music (1965).

Lawrence Tierney (1919 – 2002) was an American film and television actor best known for his roles as gangsters and tough-guys. He became a popular star with the release of Dillinger (1945). His performance as the notorious gangster led to a string of popular films noir. Some of his famous films include The Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947) Born to Kill (1947), Bodyguard (1948), and Kill or Be Killed (1950). Once Tierney’s film career slowed, he appeared on television guest starring on shows like The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

Claire Trevor (1910 - 2000) was an American actress who appeared in over 60 movies. She received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Dead End (1937), and The High and the Mighty (1954). She won the award for her performance in Key Largo (1948). Trevor got her start on the New York stage and made her film debut in 1933. She also appeared on radio with Edward G. Robinson in the popular radio program Big Town. Trevor’s most famous role is probably Dallas in Stagecoach, but she had other memorable roles in Murder, My Sweet (1944), and Born to Kill (1947). Her last film role was in Kiss Me Goodbye (1982) where she played Sally Field’s mother.

Walter Slezak (1902 – 1983) was an Austrian-born film and stage actor. Slezak started in silent films as a leading man, often directed by his friend Michael Curtiz. As he aged and gained weight, Slezak played character roles. He made his American film debut in Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942) starring Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers. He appeared in over 100 films. He also worked on Broadway where he won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his work in Fanny. Slezak also worked on radio and television. In 1974, he appeared on the soap opera One Life to Live, playing the godfather of Victoria Lord, played by his daughter Erika Slezak.

 

Born to Kill trivia

• Tallulah Bankhead was considered for the role of Helen, but she was unavailable and the role went to Claire Trevor.
• Phillip Terry divorced Joan Crawford the year before the film’s release.
• Esther Howard, part of Preston Sturges’ stock company, does a rare dramatic turn.
• Claire Trevor wears more hats in this film than probably any other film actress.
• Although not a box office success when first released, it is considered a classic film noir by many of today’s critics and fans.

 

Click HERE to watch the film on YouTube.

Click HERE to join the online discussion on November 4, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an email with an invitation and a link to join the discussion on Zoom.

 

Discussion questions

1. What did you think of Lawrence Tierney’s tough-guy performance?
2. The film was considered shocking in its day with many contemporary critics considering it unsavory. Did you find it shocking?
3. What did you think of Claire Trevor’s performance as Helen? She’s not the typical femme fatale. Instead of leading the man astray, Helen is drawn to his brutality.
4. Did the film remind you of any other films noir?