MovieChat Forums > The Killers (1946) Discussion > Swede and Kitty: Magic Movie Moments!

Swede and Kitty: Magic Movie Moments!

posted 15 years ago by davpro2
10 replies | jump to latest

One of those magic movie moments. Am I the only one?

About thirty-eight minutes into the film, Swede enters a home where there is a party going on. He becomes aware of Kitty, the hostess, and she becomes aware of him. There's a bit of conversation between them (Swede's a boxer) and then she walks over to the piano and begins singing.

Swede is smitten, and she knows it. He walks behind her as she is leaning on the piano. Close ups of Kitty (Wow, she was gorgeous!) and then Swede.

Quick cut to the woman who accompanied Swede to the party and who has noticed his interest in Kitty. She chats uncomfortably for a few seconds with another guest, and then cut back to Kitty with Burt standing behind her.

The sexual tension between them is amazing - her eyes and smile and his preoccupation with her jump out just as she finishes the song.

One of those magic movie moments that just grabs you.

[–] klasekfilmfan 14 years ago

I just watched 1946's THE KILLERS for the first time tonight. I agree with you that this was a sequence in the film that stood out. Ava Gardner's introduction into the film, and the first time Swede had laid eyes on her as well. Ava Gardner was a stunningly beautiful woman, and she seldom looked more gorgeous than she did in this film.

"Beautiful day, isn't it? Well, maybe it isn't so beautiful... it is day, though."

[–] senor_goodspeed 14 years ago

I agree that it is a great scene, but I couldn't help feeling that the Swede was a complete jerk for going to a party with another girl and then just ditching her when he saw someone he thought was prettier. And he didn't even try to hide it - just stopped and gaped. Didn't his mother ever teach him not to stare?! I felt very sorry for Lilly.

Great film though.

[–] chrisasiama 14 years ago

Yeah the Swede acted like a real swine in that scene. He wasn't really a sympathetic character at all. But then that often happens in film noir.

[–] thesnowleopard 10 years ago

Gardner is very beautiful in that scene, but I couldn't really get into the attraction between her and the Swede. It was a little too one-sided and he was a jerk to his "date" about it, too.

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[–] ridge-m-1 10 years ago

It was a scene which portrayed the Swede's overpowering attraction to Kitty very well and all within the bounds of the Hay's code. It is extremely difficult to find a scene which expresses this form of immediate sexual tension in today's films which are somewhat censorship free.

Remember that this is the world of film noir where characters tend to behave in a manner true to their complex nature as opposed to dramas which preserve the very thin layer of civilized behavior.

The Swede was not a "swine". He fell in love. His co-worker liked him. The Swede himself stated that the reason he was gonna be killed was because he did something wrong...once!

[–] elisedfr 12 years ago

Yeah but...Lilly herself said Swede was never really in love with her. His first and only love was Kitty, and his attempt at suicide when she walks out on him proves it.

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[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DracTarashV 10 years ago

I'm very fond of that scene myself (it's my favorite in the movie along with the entire opening sequence). Kitty was, of course, not worth it in the end, but... wow indeed. Gardner looked amazing.

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[–] Woodyanders 10 years ago

Yeah, that was a great scene. Loved the simmering sexual tension between Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner.

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[–] The_TJT 9 years ago

Yes, definitely movie magic moment.
Too bad that I wasn't that fond of with rest of the film, it felt a bit too caricaturish overall imo. Ava Gardner looked gorgeous though.