Summary
In the 1940s, famous authorErnest Hemingwayhad one of hisshort stories adapted into a movie, and though this film has incredible ratings, it still doesn’t have the reputation it deserves. Ernest Hemingway is a prolific writer from the 1920s to the 1950s. His writings, which are famously sparse and understated, remain classics in the literary world. Some of his most famous novels includeA Farewell to Arms, The Old Man and the Sea,andThe Sun Also Rises.Hemingway’s distinct style still impacts literature, and his stories live on today, both on the page and on the screen.
Overall, Hemingway wrote seven novels, six short-story collections, and two non-fiction projects. Of these various works, many of them have been adapted to the screen. In fact,some Hemingway stories have been adaptedmore than once. For example,For Whom the Bell Tollshas two movie adaptations and one television depiction. Similarly,A Farewell to Armshas two movies, one from 1932 and another from 1957. However, one Hemingway story enjoys the most on-screen adaptations of all. Strangely enough, it isn’t even the writer’s most famous work, but it is one of the best thrillers of all time.
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The Killers Is One Of The Best Crime Movies Of The 1940s
The Killers Was A Cinematic Success
Ernest Hemingway’s short story,The Killers,has three movies and a TV production, yet themost underrated adaptation of the classic storyis the 1946 version.The Killersfollows Jim Reardon, a life insurance investigatorwho gets put on the case of a murdered boxer who seemingly did not fight for his life. As Reardon dives deeper into the mystery, he sets his sights on a pair of skilled hit men.The Killerswas and is a hit. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Director. Plus, it currently holds a 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Killerswas nominated for Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 1946 Academy Awards.
The success ofThe Killerscan be attributed both to Hemingway and the 1946 filmmakers. While Hemingway is the mind behind the story,writer Anthony Veiller and director Robert Siodmark bring Hemingway’s vision to life. They expand the story in a way that keeps audiences invested. Furthermore, thefilm noir style of the moviegivesThe Killersa strong sense of setting and ambiance. The movie’s strong cast, including Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner, also helps the movie succeed. In fact, all these factors continue to makeThe Killersa thrilling watch, even over 70 years later.
Ernest Hemingway Wrote The Short Story For The Killers
What Makes Hemingway’s The Killers So Adaptable
ThoughThe Killershas been adapted to the screen over and over again, the story originated as a piece of writing by Ernest Hemingway.The Killerswas first published in Scribner’s Magazinein 1927. It appeared later in three different Hemingway short story collections, includingMen Without Women, Snows of Kilimanjaro,andThe Nick Adams Stories.Over time,The Killersbecame one of Hemingway’s most popular short stories, yet it didn’t hit movie screens until 20 years after its publication date. Despite this gap, it continues to be an engaging and powerful story.
All in all, Hemingway’s ability to master large ideas in very brief stories is perfectly exemplified byThe Killers,and that may be what makes it so popular.
The aspect ofThe Killersthat makes it so popular likely is its bluntness. Hemingway was known for writing punchy, brief stories that left out much of the story’s greater context. In some ways,The Killersis an extreme version of this. In under 3000 words, Hemingway introduces and solves a strange crime. More importantly, he explores important themes about death, the human experience, and the meaning of life. All in all, Hemingway’s ability to master large ideas in very brief stories is perfectly exemplified byThe Killers,and that may be what makes it so popular.
The Killers Was Incredibly Suspenseful and Thrilling For The Time
The Killers Expanded On Hemingway’s Mystery
The best part of 1946’sThe Killersis the way it elongates and blurs what Hemingway wrote.The movie adds new aspects to Hemingway’s story, including the character Jim Reardon. Though his addition makes the film less accurate to the book, it becomes more intriguing that way. By focusing in on Reardon and solving Ole Anderson’s death, audiences are left with burning questions that they need answers to. In this way,The Killersmovie adds an edge of mystery that Hemingway’s story doesn’t quite have.
All in all,The Killersis definitely a worthwhile watch- or read. Ernest Hemingway’s story opens the door to interesting ideas about life and death, while the movie adds a sense of thrill and adventure. With both of those aspects in mind,The Killersis a gripping, twisty experience with a truly effective payoff. It is no mistake that 1946’sThe Killersis one of the few adaptations of his work thatErnest Hemingwayactually liked.
