The Killing (1956)

Just out of a five year stretch in prison, a career criminal (Sterling Hayden) plans a racetrack heist of two million dollars. He's assisted by four cohorts: a cop (Ted De Corsia), a bartender (Joe Sawyer), a teller (Elisha Cook Jr.) and a banker (Jay C. Flippen) who funds the plans. Based on the novel CLEAN BREAK by Lionel White and directed by Stanley Kubrick who wrote the screenplay with Jim Thompson. This is a terrific thriller done in semi-documentary style. Although he had done two films previously, this is the real start of Kubrick's film odyssey. The tight film editing (credited to Betty Steinberg), the detailed B&W cinematography courtesy of Lucien Ballard and a wonderfully tense underscore by Gerald Fried all contribute to the film's nervously exciting atmosphere but Kubrick's hands are all over it. The acting is marvelous with the supporting roles all filled with familiar faces. Hayden's world weary countenance is almost existential and Elisha Cook Jr. and Marie Windsor as his trampy wife are fantastic in the quintessential Cook and Windsor roles. One of the great noirs. With Vince Edwards, Coleen Gray, Timothy Carey, James Edwards, Dorothy Adams,  Jay Adler and Kola Kwariani.