Ernest Hemingway's THE KILLERS - Tense Love, Taut Luck (1946)

A couple weeks ago, I presented you with the 1964 version of "The Killers," I guess if I had given it any forethought, I would have done this 1946 version first, but since everything else in my world is bassackwards, I guess it doesn't matter much! That being said, it's time for another Saturday Night Special down in The Dungeon, and a very special film for numerous reasons, "Ernest Hemingway's The Killers!"

I don't know it for a fact, because I still haven't read the story, but I'm willing to bet that this version is a lot closer to the original tale! It just makes sense!

In this 1946 version, even though it's named after them, the two killers have a much smaller role! Charles (The Mad Ghoul, The Birds) McGraw, and William (Cannon, Jake and the Fatman) Conrad in only his second big screen appearance, are Al and Max, aka, "The Killers!"

 "The Killers" is well lit and extremely atmospheric!

In this version, there is an insurance investigator named Jim Reardon who has a bunch of sneaking suspicions about a death, and a rather odd policy! Jim Reardon is played by Edmond (D.O.A.) O'Brien, and in my feeble mind, he's the real star of the movie, even though he's not even credited on the poster, because..............

......."The Killers" is a movie about two different and more dynamic talents of the time, Burt Lancaster, and ...................

..........The gorgeous Ava Gardner!!

The 1964 version featured John Cassavetes as a banged up race car driver, and in this version, Burt Lancaster is a washed-up boxer because of a broken right hand, which would have been a lot more appropriate for 1946, but it kind of makes you wonder why they thought they needed to change it, because boxing was still popular in 1964!

 Believe it or not, "The Killers" isn't a vampire or a Universal horror movie, but you wouldn't know it by looking at this shot!

Or this one that looks like it's from "Peter Pan In Prison!"

 I think this was the original poster, and I like it a lot, because it tells you who all the awesome supporting cast members were! Albert (Dr. Cyclops) Dekker, Sam (Three Men On A Horse) Levene, Vince (Red Planet Mars) Barnett, Jack (Kiss Me Deadly) Lambert, Jeff (Lady In A Cage) Corey, and Virginia (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) Christine!

 Ava Gardner gives you lots of different looks in this movie, and they're all good!!

 "So what do you think guys? I told you it was big!"

"Wow Boss, you weren't kidding!"

 Now this is what you call a fight scene!!

Time to head on over to the "Green Cat" for a drink or two!
A very interesting place!

 These five guys squished into a patrol car reminds me a bit of stuffing nine clowns into a Volkswagen!

I'll leave you with this killer production still of Ava Gardner!

"Ernest Hemingway's The Killers" is a great story no matter which version you see, but I think I liked this version a little bit better, but overall, you're not going to go wrong! Just watch it already, you won't regret it!

SANTO CONTRA EL ASESINO DE LA T. V. / Cinematográfica RA, Producciones Géminis - 1981

It's Cinco De Mayo, so, I'd be silly to not post a flick from Mexico. Here's one about a TV broadcast that's interrupted by a masked man named Magnus, who says he's going to show an authentic criminal act, the live kidnapping of actress Marina Laval, which he does! Then he says, tune in next week for the broadcast of a jewel robbery, and, Santo joins the fun to solve the mystery...

Magnus interrupts a musical program to issue his message about a plan to kidnap of beloved actress Marina Laval... Love the shot of the family, bewildered, watching their TV!

Meanwhile, our hero Santo is in the ring kicking some butt as usual. Love that top shot of the arena interior, I really miss the good old days, considering what deep shit we're all in now!!

Magnus has a prison in some caves, where he keeps his female trophies safe from prying eyes.

Break time... Here's portly ranchera singer Gerardo Reyes crooning to the audience...

Okay. (beep beep) break's over!!

After a botched kidnapping, Magnus gets on the horn to let everyone know he's pissed off!

Magnus has a sweet illegal underground broadcasting station!..

Then, Magnus interferes in a wrasslin' match with our hero. Santo's pals watch the action in horror as the battle tide goes back and forth! Santo barely wins this one. Santo was 64 years old when this one was filmed!!

I really dig the underground lair of Magnus! Santo has to fight off a bunch of guys before he deals with the karate dude that knows how to kick!

Magnus, now with his mask removed, basically goes bananas as he threatens to blow the place sky high in order to kill Santo and his pals!

An interesting shot!!.. Anyway, Santo grabs everyone and they get their butts out of the caves as quickly as possible, before...

The place explodes, destroying the underground lair and killing Magnus!.. Hooray!!

Join us again tomorrow as we end our week, here, at The Dungeon!!!

THE HOLE - John and Faith Hubley (1962)

"The Hole" is a 1962 Oscar Award winning short by John and Faith Hubley, the animation couple that brought the world 779 episodes of "The Electric Company" from 1971 to 1977!

The funny thing is that the Hubley's are not who animated "The Hole," instead it was animated by two other colossal talents, Bill (Toonerville Trolley, Charlie Brown, Garfield) Littlejohn, and Gary (Underdog, Heavy Metal) Mooney!!

"The Hole" is an abstract tale of two New York construction workers underground who have a discussion about the workings of the world, or is it? One of the absolute best trumpet players of all time, Dizzy Gillespie is the voice of this unnamed character!

The voice of the grumpy worker is George (City Beneath The Sea, The Man With The Golden Arm) Matthews.

Dizzy Gillespie is credited along with Charlie "Bird" Parker for being the creator of a jazz musical style known as Be-Bop, and after that, music was never the same again!

"The Hole" is not a funny cartoon, although there is some comedic dialogue! It has a very serious message that resounds firmly today!

The conversation stops, and there is a loud blast, and when the two guys poke their heads out.......

This is all there is left to see!

Let's just hope this prophetic little cartoon doesn't come true some 55 years later!