The Killers (1946) Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Ernest Hemingway

Book Vs. Movie: The Killers
The 1927 Ernest Hemingway Short Story Vs. the 1946 Classic Film

The Margos are discussing Ernest Hemingway for the first time on the podcast after nine years of producing, which is shocking! His 1927 short story, The Killers, was first published in 1927 for Scribner’s Magazine and is a return of his character Nick Adams who appears in several short stories.

Set in Summit, Illinois, Adams has to deal with a couple of hitmen looking to take out a boxer named “Ole Anderson.” A Swedish heavyweight fighter being warned about impending doom decides to let fate take over.

Like many of his peers, Hemingway detested the Hollywood versions of his work that were sanitized due to the Hays Code. In the 1946 adaptation, director Robert Siodmak and screenwriter Anthony Veiller give us more background on “The Swede” and his life after his boxing career ended.

So what are the main differences between the short story and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen!

In this ep, the Margos discuss:

• Ernest Hemingway and his incredible life and career
• The cast of the 1946 film: Burt Lancaster (Pete Lund/Ole “Swede” Anderson,) Ava Gardner (Kitty Collins,) Edmond O’Brien (Jim Reardon,) Albert Dekker (“Big Jim Colfax,”), Sam Levene (Lt. Sam Lubinsky,) Vince Barnett (Charleston,) Virginia Christine (Lily,) Jack Lambert (“Dum-Dum” Clarke), Phil Brown (Nick Adams,) Charles D. Brown (Packy Robinson,) and Donald MacBride as Reardon’s boss.

Clips used:

• The opening scene at the Brentwood diner
• The Killers (1946 trailer)
• Nick warns The Swede
• Main boxing scene
• Ava Gardner sings
• Kitty leaves Reardon
• Colfax dies, and Kitty panics
• Music: Miklos Rozsa

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