Overview
A man's loyalty is tested when his past comes back to haunt him, threatening his newfound happiness.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- bleak
- tense
- gritty
- classic noir night
- crime movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praise the film's gritty New York location work and Richard Widmark's terrifying debut performance, while finding the crime narrative somewhat dated or uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Nick's criminal associates are presented as damaged and dangerous rather than charismatic antiheroes, while prison, betrayal, and family loss dominate the plot.
Tommy Udo's high-pitched laugh, baby-talk delivery, and sadistic unpredictability make him the film's defining source of fear.
Henry Hathaway shoots extensively throughout Manhattan, giving the New York streets and institutions a gritty, observational texture.
After informing on his former partners, Nick remarries, finds work, and pursues family stability while facing Tommy Udo's revenge.
Films like Kiss of Death, and why
The Asphalt Jungle
shared film noir atmosphere, criminal protagonists, and morally compromised urban crime
The Naked City
shared postwar crime drama, police pressure, and bleak criminal underworld
White Heat
shared ruthless gangster menace, psychological tension, and fatalistic noir tone
Brute Force
shared ex-con protagonist, revenge threat, and hard-edged crime thriller structure
Movie Details
- Director
- Henry Hathaway
- Release Date
- 1947-08-27
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (172)
Cast
- Victor Mature
- Brian Donlevy
- Coleen Gray
- Richard Widmark
- Taylor Holmes
- Howard Smith
- Karl Malden
- Anthony Ross
- Robert Adler
- Rollin Bauer
Common questions
- What is Kiss of Death about?
- An ex-convict seeking domestic stability becomes the target of a sadistic killer after breaking the criminal code of silence.
- What is Kiss of Death like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Kiss of Death as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Kiss of Death violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Kiss of Death as brutal.
- What did critics think of Kiss of Death?
- Critics broadly praise the film's gritty New York location work and Richard Widmark's terrifying debut performance, while finding the crime narrative somewhat dated or uneven.
- Which films are like Kiss of Death?
- Films with a similar feel include The Asphalt Jungle, The Naked City, White Heat, and Brute Force.
- How long is Kiss of Death?
- Kiss of Death runs 99 minutes.
