The Killers (1964 film)

The Killers, sometimes called Ernest Hemingway's The Killers, released by Universal Studios in 1964, was Hollywood's second adaptation of the Hemingway short story. Don Siegel directed, and Lee Marvin starred.

Interesting facts

• The 1964 Killers was the first movie ever to be "made for TV", but NBC judged it too violent to broadcast, and Universal released the movie in theaters instead.
• Don Siegel had been hired, then replaced, as director of the 1946 film noir adaptation of the same story (see The Killers (1946 film)).
• During filming, according to the DVD commentary, leading lady Angie Dickinson received the news that her friend (and rumored romantic partner) President John F. Kennedy had been shot and killed.
• This was Ronald Reagan's last acting role before entering politics, and the only bad-guy role in his career. According to Kirk Douglas' autobiography The Ragman's Son, Reagan hated the movie because of a scene in which he slapped Dickinson. Reagan thought the film would hurt his political career.
• Actress Virginia Christine had also been in the 1946 version.