Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Tommy Udo

The Sylvester Stallone of his time, Victor Mature was regarded as little more than a joke until his fine performance in the crime drama "Kiss of Death." Unfortunately for Mature, a New York stage actor was making his film debut in the Henry Hathaway directed thriller, and "Kiss of Death" remains famous for having introduced Richard Widmark to film audiences. As the giggling, psychopathic Tommy Udo (is there a true film buff anywhere in the world unfamiliar with that name?), Widmark would create a character much imitated in the years that followed, though still not surpassed for cruelty. It is in this film that Widmark pushes an old lady tied into her wheelchair down a flight of stairs, maniacally cackling as she makes her way to the bottom. The scene is still quite chilling, and there isn't a moment nearly as memorable in the adequate 1995 remake with Nicolas Cage and David Caruso taking over for Widmark and Mature. The rest of this original "Kiss of Death" holds up pretty well, too.

Nick Bianco- True Noir Protagonist

Henry Hathaway's 1947 noir drama Kiss of Death is one of the first films to deal with the subject of criminal informing. An informer, commonly referred among criminals as a squealer, stoolie, rat, or pigeon is often trapped in an earthy purgatory. Shunned by the underworld and suspectly viewed by law enforcement, an informer's life becomes shrouded in self doubt concerning the principles of right and wrong. In Kiss of Death, Nick Bianco's ( Victor Mature) decision to turn informer against a demented, murdering gangster named Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark) is justified by his duty as a father to provide security for his two young daughters. When Nick Bianco's testimony fails to convict Udo, Bianco's safe environment becomes disrupted and threatened by the violence that was once part of his criminal past. Widmark making his screen debut as the cackling Udo is memorable with shaven eyebrows,intimidating drawl, and dark gangster suits. Mature's performance is first rate as the ex-hood who showers his new wife (Coleen Gray ) and children with the bliss of blue collar euphoria. Hathaway's New York filming locations add to the realism of Bianco's plight. Legendary Sing Sing prison in Ossining, "The Tombs" prison cells in NYC, St. Nicholas Boxing Arena in the Bronx, and the gray streets of Greenpoint Brooklyn provide ample imagery to the noir motif. Hathaway deftly and subtlely escorts Udo and Bianco into a private bordello. Most viewers are not aware that the double entry doors manned by the tall, dark figure is a whorehouse. ( Bianco- "What's that smell?" Udo- "Perfume"-camera fades out). The one major flaw is Coleen Gray's fairy tale voice over ending. After being shot at close range, four times with a 45. automatic, why did Hathaway allow Bianco to survive? Hathaway succumbed to the false noble notion that squealers will enjoy long idyllic lives. Not so- has anyone checked on Sammy the Bull, Joe Valachi, or Henry Hill lately?

"I wouldn't give you the skin off a grape."

In the film "Kiss of Death", when Nick Bianco (Victor Mature) is sentenced to 20 years in prison for a botched armed robbery, he arrogantly rejects Asst DA Louie DeAngelo's (Brian Donlevy) deal to squeal on his accomplices, and Bianco states that he'll take care of his family "his way". But after a few years in prison and after his wife's suicide, Bianco's two young daughters are stuck in an orphanage. And then Bianco decides to deal with the DA....

"Kiss of Death" includes some stunning performances. Most notable is Richard Widmark as Tommy Ugo ("you know what I do to squealers?"). Widmark is remarkably chilling as the young thug who giggles his way through violence and killing. A few casual scenes with Ugo in a nightclub are convincing enough to anticipate Ugo's ultimate showdown with Bianco. Donlevy is the ethical DA whose hands are tied at crucial moments--he's a man just trying to do a job he believes in. Victor Mature is well cast as Nick Bianco--the man who started off on the wrong path in life, but he loves his children and wants to ensure their safety. The final scene of the film is one of the most suspenseful I've ever seen.

On another note--I was taken by surprise when Donlevy announces that Ugo as a three-time loser will be sent up for life. Apparently the three-time loser thing is not a new idea by any means. Also of interest--some of the film was actually filmed in Sing-Sing. For Film Noir fans, I recommend "Kiss of Death"--it was an excellent film--displacedhuman.