Charles castle, one of hollywoods biggest stars, looks like he has it all. It was, however, championed by french film critics, awarded honors at the 1955 venice film festival, and has since amassed a cult audience due to its highly stylized nature and the excellent ensemble cast, though some feel that rod steigers hyperactive histrionics go beyond the borders of camp. But his marriage is falling apart and his wife is threatening to leave him if he renews his contract. Given odets unflattering take on hollywood, it took a while for the film version to find a home. The best extra is a full commentary by critics and film writers glenn kenny and nick pinkerton, who cover the actors, aldrich and the major stories associated with the film. The big knife 1955 starring jack palance, ida lupino. Fr voir philosophy of a knife streaming streaming vf. I was googling the big knife, the 1949 production, which i saw as a girl of 17going on 18, and i loved it to read this scene was a wonderful reminder of how great odets writing was. It was, however, championed by french film critics, awarded honors at the 1955 venice film festival, and has since amassed a cult audience due to its highly stylized nature and the. The big knife is a 1955 film noir directed and produced by robert aldrich from a screenplay by james poe based on the 1949 play by clifford odets. The big knife addresses themes of the individuals struggle to maintain personal integrity.
A pretty good hollywood story movie, but i saw it on tv and didnt get to watch the whole thing, so i cant say much about it. Many big knives are still relatively flat, with thin profiles. The big knife is a dramatic film about a big time movie star that refuses to sign a long term studio contract. Directed by robert aldrich 1955 united states starring jack palance, ida lupino, rod steiger. Charles castle is a big film star who wants nothing to do with the major studio run by the wicked stanley hoff, despite the offer of a big money contract. Directed by lee strasberg, who had worked with odets at the group theatre, and starring fellow group theatre alumnus john garfield. Columbia head harry cohn happily handed him his marching papers when he realized halfway through filming that this was the same director who had made the big knife 1955. Balisong movies movies that the balisong makes an appearance.
The big knife replacement disc programme good news, our replacement discs programme for the big knife is now open. The bit rate is a bit light at first the stylized titles, with charlie perhaps already in his bathtub, are rathy buzzy but clears up mostly later on. Mgms dvd of the big knife is a decent transfer that looks all right flat, but has lots of dead space top and bottom meant to be cropped away by theater masking. Charles castle is a big film star who wants nothing to do with the major studio run by the wicked stanley hoff, despite the offer of a. A glossy, beautifully produced 40page booklet featuring an essay on the film, a reprinted article on writer clifford odets, cast and crew listing, transfer notes, and several blackand. Based on a play by clifford odets, the big knife is a 1955 film noir about an actor charles castle whose life is falling apart. The play debuted at broadways national theatre on 24 february 1949 before closing on may 28th after 109 performances. The big knife has an early main title design from saul bass, and another extra is a halfhour documentary by bass on his famous title sequences. Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, trends, specific. The original trailer in high definition of the big knife directed by robert aldrich and starring jack palance, ida lupino, wendell corey, jean hagen and rod. Though the big knife was adapted as a 1955 feature film with the intriguing cast of jack palance, ida lupino, shelly winters and rod steiger.
The big knife 1955 cast and crew movie star charlie castle jack palance draws the ire of hollywood producer stanley hoff rod steiger when he refuses to sign a. The original trailer in high definition of the big knife directed by robert aldrich and starring jack palance, ida lupino, wendell corey, jean. Smiley coy is a great part for corey and he delivers. The scene is the african republic of liberia, which in this film proves to be a stoppingoff point for a number of shady characters. He is one of hollywoods biggest stars, so successful. The big knife, bluray, with dvd, suspensefilm noir, 7607035787. Even with john garfield in the lead, the noirish, overwrought 1949 play had an anemic 108 performance run.
The big knife is a 1955 film noir directed and produced by robert aldrich from a screenplay by james poe based on the play by clifford odets. The big knife 1955 original trailer hd 1080p youtube. He wants to break his big sevenyear contract and stop being a big movie star. Regarder en hd a good cast smooths over the rough spots of les heros sont fatigues. The big knife is an american play by clifford odets. The roundabout revival of clifford odets the big knife, is a case of resurrecting a play that failed on stage. Palance you can have, and while he is on his way out the door, have him grab steiger. Our 15 favorite movie knife scenes with video posted by ifc on august 15th.
Actor charles castle jack palance is a star in the purest sense of the word. The big knife arrives on bluray packaged in a standard clear case. The big knife is a mostly good adaptation of a clifford odets play about a hollywood actor whos being blackmailed into studio servitude while trying to patch up his failing marriage. Although he was never officially blacklisted, aldrich had real difficulty securing other work and had to go to europe where he made the hammer film ten seconds to hell 1959 and the biblical epic sodom and gomorrah 1962. Here are some of the sharpest moments in cinema, from the knifefighting of the hunted to the knifethrowing of gangs of new york. Engrossing film that shows jack palance in perhaps his finest role. Aldrich coaxes independent, intense performances from clifford odets wordy and. One response to big knife, the 1955 david csontos, on august 18th, 2008 at 8. While the big knife was never positioned as a commercial film for the masses, it still failed to find an appreciative audience at the time of its release in the u.
The scandalous coverup depicted in the film is supposedly based on a reallife incident involving a young john huston. A big thanks goes out to all of you for bearing with us whilst we put this replacement disc programme into place, we really appreciate your patience and support. Yet the big knife contiues to fascinate at the same time it annoys. The first of aldrichs three movies with the film world as backdrop the others being. Arrow academy in the us and uk bring the big knife to regionfree bluray. Fighting advantages a big knife means all of the benefits of that blade are scaled up. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events.