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Kiss Me Deadly

  • 1955
  • Approved
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
24K
YOUR RATING
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:15
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Film NoirCrimeDramaMysteryThriller

A doomed hitchhiker pulls a tough private investigator into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue.A doomed hitchhiker pulls a tough private investigator into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue.A doomed hitchhiker pulls a tough private investigator into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue.

  • Director
    • Robert Aldrich
  • Writers
    • Mickey Spillane
    • A.I. Bezzerides
  • Stars
    • Ralph Meeker
    • Albert Dekker
    • Paul Stewart
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    24K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • Mickey Spillane
      • A.I. Bezzerides
    • Stars
      • Ralph Meeker
      • Albert Dekker
      • Paul Stewart
    • 239User reviews
    • 145Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:15
    Trailer
    Cowboys! Detectives! Giant Bugs! B-Movie History!
    Clip 5:23
    Cowboys! Detectives! Giant Bugs! B-Movie History!
    Cowboys! Detectives! Giant Bugs! B-Movie History!
    Clip 5:23
    Cowboys! Detectives! Giant Bugs! B-Movie History!

    Photos123

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    + 117
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    Top Cast44

    Ralph Meeker
    Ralph Meeker
    • Mike Hammer
    Albert Dekker
    Albert Dekker
    • Dr. G.E. Soberin
    Paul Stewart
    Paul Stewart
    • Carl Evello
    Juano Hernandez
    Juano Hernandez
    • Eddie Yeager
    Wesley Addy
    Wesley Addy
    • Lt. Pat Murphy
    Marian Carr
    Marian Carr
    • Friday
    • (as Marion Carr)
    Marjorie Bennett
    Marjorie Bennett
    • Manager
    Mort Marshall
    Mort Marshall
    • Ray Diker
    Fortunio Bonanova
    Fortunio Bonanova
    • Carmen Trivago
    Strother Martin
    Strother Martin
    • Harvey Wallace
    Mady Comfort
    Mady Comfort
    • Nightclub Singer
    • (as Madi Comfort)
    James McCallion
    James McCallion
    • Horace
    Robert Cornthwaite
    Robert Cornthwaite
    • FBI Agent
    Silvio Minciotti
    • Mover
    Nick Dennis
    Nick Dennis
    • Nick Va Va Voom
    Ben Morris
    • Radio Announcer
    Jack Elam
    Jack Elam
    • Charlie Max
    Paul Richards
    Paul Richards
    • Attacker
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • Mickey Spillane
      • A.I. Bezzerides
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews239

    7.523.9K
    1
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    10

    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Kiss Me Deadly' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep (1946)
    Film Noir
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      The Kefauver Commission, a federal unit dedicated to investigating corrupting influences in the 1950s, singled this out as 1955's number one menace to American youth. Because of this, Robert Aldrich felt compelled to conduct a writing campaign for the free speech rights of independent filmmakers.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 10 mins) The singer is shown standing with both hands on the microphone stand. When Hammer is sitting at the bar, during the same song, the singer is shown in a reflection playing a piano and not singing, though she is still heard singing.
    • Quotes
      • Mike Hammer: You're never around when I need you.
      • Velda: You never need me when I'm around.
    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits scroll down instead of the usual up, resulting in needing to read them bottom to top.
    • Alternate versions
      Until 1997, all known copies in circulation of "Kiss Me Deadly" ended rather abruptly: the wounded Mike Hammer stumbling through the beach house looking for his partner Velda, and then there's a couple of brief shots of the house exploding and burning, with "The End" superimposed on the final shot. The music is cut off instead of fading out, and the screen turns black; it looks like Mike and Velda died in the blaze.
    • Connections
      Edited into American Cinema: Film Noir (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Rather Have the Blues
      Sung by Nat 'King' Cole
      Written by Frank De Vol (uncredited)
      [Played on the car radio during the opening title card and credits]

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    FAQ3

    • Why are there two different endings?
    • Which one is the original ending?
    • What is the European ending?

    Details

    • Release date
      • April 28, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • El beso mortal
    • Filming locations
      • Clay Street, Bunker Hill, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(Mike parks his Corvette and takes the back steps up to the Hillcrest Hotel)
    • Production company
      • Parklane Pictures Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $410,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $726,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $952,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 46m(106 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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