Born to Kill (1947)

Directed by Robert Wise; produced by Herman Schlom

Helen Brent (Claire Trevor), newly divorced and travelling back to San Francisco from Reno, meets Sam Wilde (Lawrence Tierney), a low-talking, supremely confident man - who has just murdered two people. After an implied tryst, Helen tries to brush Wilde off, but he pursues her, despite her betrothal to another man (Phillip Terry). Wilde’s motives aren’t just carnal, however: they are also mercenary, and when he marries Helen’s rich sister, Georgia (Audrey Long), lives are sure to be ruined - and maybe ended.

A dark, unforgiving movie, Born to Kill characterises the psychological aspects of film noir and, in so doing, becomes one of the ‘noirest’ of the genre. There is a great deal of talent displayed in Born to Kill, but even for that, it is not really a pleasant movie to watch.

Trevor’s performance is the stand-out, though, as the unfeeling murderer, Tierney has what might be considered the choice role. Helen Brent is not really someone on whose side the audience would be. She is rather cool, and definitely selfish. Her affair takes little account of her fiancé, and when she discovers two corpses, clearly the result of homicide, her reaction is to flee town. Her character becomes somewhat sympathetic as the movie progresses, and her motives, never noble and entirely egocentric, become nonetheless honest. There are moments when Trevor reveals her character’s personality with a glance or an expression that show her talent.

I had a problem with Tierney, which doesn’t really stem from his performance. His character consists largely of one note, a glum, menacing attitude that is really one big chip on broad shoulders. The script is good but leaves the viewer wondering what some women see in Wilde. Certainly, the glowering, dangerous aspect would appeal to many. But the mental and emotional sides, as opposed to merely the physical, are absent. As an affair, Wilde is credible; as a husband, he is a cipher. He also has a friend (Elisha Cook Jr, in a very good performance), yet gives no indication that the two of them do anything more than mope in silence together.

The portrayal of this single-minded killer is very effective, even so. Wilde is driven almost exclusively by the desire to get what he wants. He even ignores the hazard of being tracked by police and caught, concentrating instead on his anger over anyone ‘cutting in on him’. Tierney is well-cast for the role, though, considering his off-screen actions, one wonders how much of a stretch the violent, paranoid Sam Wilde was for the actor.

With primary characters as off-putting as Helen and Wilde, it is perhaps not surprising that the minor characters present more interest. Esther Howard does fine work as a heavily-drinking friend of the first murder victim: initially rather repulsive, she reveals hidden depths of loyalty. Walter Slezak, on the other hand, plays a very good detective with rather loose ethics. Martha Hyer, Ellen Corby and Jason Robards Senior have uncredited roles.

Born to Kill is a grim plunge into the psyche of two people, one whose ambition and ruthlessness is unencumbered by the slightest concern for others, and the other whose amorality is barely under control at the best of times. That given, one cannot expect fun watching this movie, perhaps not even entertainment. But Born to Kill will certainly give the viewer something to think about.