| The Big Knife | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Aldrich |
| Screenplay by | James Poe |
| Based on | The Big Knife by Clifford Odets |
| Produced by | Robert Aldrich |
| Starring | Jack Palance Ida Lupino Wendell Corey Jean Hagen Rod Steiger Shelley Winters |
| Narrated by | Richard Boone |
| Cinematography | Ernest Laszlo |
| Edited by | Michael Luciano |
| Music by | Frank De Vol |
Production companies | The Associates Aldrich Company |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $400,000–460,000[1][2] |
| Box office | $1,250,000[3][2] 220,066 admissions (France)[4] |
The Big Knife is a 1955 American melodrama film directed and produced by Robert Aldrich from a screenplay by James Poe based on the 1949 play by Clifford Odets. The film stars Jack Palance, Ida Lupino, Wendell Corey, Jean Hagen, Rod Steiger, Shelley Winters, Ilka Chase, and Everett Sloane.[5]
The story delves into the dark side of Hollywood, exploring themes of corruption, betrayal, and the destructive nature of fame. Jack Palance plays a conflicted movie star trapped by his own success and the manipulations of the film industry. The film is noted for its intense atmosphere and sharp critique of the pressures and moral compromises inherent in show business. It received critical acclaim for its direction, screenplay, and strong ensemble cast, cementing its place as a significant work in 1950s American cinema.
- ^ Alain Silver and James Ursini, Whatever Happened to Robert Aldrich?, Limelight, 1995 p 242
- ^ a b Aldrich, Robert (2004). Robert Aldrich : interviews. University Press of Mississippi. p. 12.
- ^ Alain Silver and James Ursini, Whatever Happened to Robert Aldrich?, Limelight, 1995 p 14
- ^ French box office results for Robert Aldrich films at Box Office Story
- ^ Robert Aldrich's Wildly Melodrama The Big Knife is a Hollywood Morality Tale, Clifford Odets Style - Nathan Rabin's Happy Place