Murder by Contract
1958
***
Director: Irving Lerner
Cast: Vince Edwards, Phillip Pine, Herschel Bernardi, Caprice Toriel, Kathie Browne, Michael Granger, Clarence Cassell, Frances Osborn, Donald Kerr, Joe Miksak
A methodical but easygoing contract killer hits a snag after snag when he takes an assignment to eliminate a female witness. Martin Scorsese is a big fan of Irving Lerner's short and streamlined film noir. The script is pretty useless, but the film oozes cool and style, thanks to Vince Edwards' laid-back performance and Perry Botkin's unusual soundtrack.
