Kiss Me Deadly
1955
****½
Director: Robert Aldrich
Cast: Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Juano Hernandez, Wesley Addy, Maxine Cooper, Cloris Leachman, Gaby Rodgers, Nick Dennis, Jack Elam, Jack Lambert
When a traumatised woman he picked up in his car is killed, private investigator Mike Hammer delves into a complex and dangerous conspiracy that seems to revolve around a mysterious box and its contents. Robert Aldrich's cynical crime drama from Mickey Spillane's 1952 novel is one of the grimmest and most influential works in the film noir genre. It has plenty of atmosphere, innovative camera work and editing, and an unforgettable ending.
