- Fresh out of jail, Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) has a scheme for a racetrack heist that is sure to net millions. He's already assembled a crew of men, none of whom "are criminals in the usual sense." As Johnny notes, "they've all got jobs, they all live seemingly normal, decent lives, but they got their problems, and they've all got a little larceny in 'em." There's track bartender Mike O'Reilly (Joe Sawyer), whose ailing wife (Dorothy Adams) needs medical care. And Officer Kennan (Ted de Corsia), "a funny kind of cop" under the thumb of a loan shark. Marvin Unger (Jay Flippen) fronts the money for the job, and "there's nothing (he) wouldn't do for Johnny" because he's obviously in love with the man. There's also the sheepish ticket agent George Peatty (Elisha Cook Jr.) who desperately wants to buy his wife Sherry's (Marie Windsor) affection. Rounding out the group are the philosophically-inclined wrestler Maurice (Kola Kwariani) and a gun-for-hire named Nikki (Timothy Carey).
- Seven people means an elaborate heist, but it also means that plenty can go wrong. The first problem arrives when the gang catches Sherry listening outside the door of their meeting room. Because Johnny immediately perceives that she has "a big dollar sign where most women have a heart," he naturally assumes that she'll keep quiet to ensure George's success. What Johnny doesn't know is that Sherry and her lover, Val (Vince Edwards), have plans of their own that involve taking George's -- and everyone else's -- loot for themselves. One expects that it will be interesting to see how their scheme works out.
- The heist itself goes off more or less as planned, and it's certainly the most impressive and interesting part of the film. Since so much of the action depends upon simultaneous events, the operation is shown from several different viewpoints, some of which overlap with one another in time. As usual, there's not much point in relating the details of the heist, particularly when it is represented so masterfully. It should suffice to note that the crew creates multiple, memorable diversions to distract the police and everyone else from what is really happening. Unfortunately for the gang, the aftermath of the heist is not nearly so successful. Although most of them escape from the racetrack, Val and his goons quickly step in. The ensuing shootout eventually spells death for everyone except Johnny, but not before George gives his wife a punchline she won't have a chance to forget. In the meantime, Johnny and his girlfriend Fay (Coleen Gray) try to salvage a successful escape. Fate, of course, has other ideas. Thanks to the combined efforts of some obstinate airline workers, a flimsy suitcase, and a mischievous pooch, the couple watches two million dollars slowly blow away with the wind. Should they even try to run away? "What's the difference?" Johnny says.
- The Killing is Stanley Kubrick's first great success and an excellent contribution to the heist film subgenre. Although this was far from the first film to use nonlinear chronology, it is certainly one of the better and more influential examples of the technique. One has trouble imagining, for example, that Reservoir Dogs would exist without this film. The film's multiple tracking shots of horses and people are impressive, as is the film's occasionally violent jazz score. In my opinion, however, the most impressive aspect of The Killing is its great set of characters. There are very few films with eight well-defined, memorable characters, but this one has them. It's too bad they had to meet with such a tragic end.
- The screenplay was co-written by Jim Thompson.
- Likable actors James Edwards and Joe Turkel also had minor roles in this film.
