Released: August 1947

Directed by: Henry Hathaway

Cast: Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Coleen Gray, Richard Widmark, Taylor Holmes, Howard Smith, Karl Malden, Anthony Ross, Robert Adler, Rollin Bauer, Harry Bellaver, and Mildred Dunnock as Mrs. Rizzo.

Spoilers? You betcha!

In Kiss of Death, it’s appropriate that we first meet Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark) in a New York City Courthouse holding cell. Muttering insults to the guards and befriending fellow cellmate Nick Bianco (Victor Mature). While Nick is tentative, Tommy sees the two of them as real pals. Nick thinks Tommy talks too much, which he does, but Tommy sees bigger things. Tommy is a psychopath.

Unbeknownst to Nick, he and Tommy share the same lawyer. Earl Howser (Taylor Holmes), an eminent shyster with connections, springs Tommy from the big house. While leaving Nick to stew in stir and filling him with empty promises.

Although Kiss of Death is the story of Nick Bianco, a mug, who’s really a decent guy who’s made some poor life choices. It’s Tommy Udo who fuels the second half of the film. In his first screen appearance, Richard Widmark delivers an unforgettable performance as the kackling, narcistic, psychotic criminal who repeatedly manages to slip through the fingers of the law.

I want to say Mr. Widmark steals the show, but that would be unfair to Mr. Mature. Victor Mature’s performance is equally good, countering Mr. Widmark’s over-the-top character, as a more reserved, and realistic petty criminal. It’s a beautiful balance that helps make Kiss of Death the great noir film that it is.

But what of Tommy Udo himself? At first, Tommy is impressed with Nick. Seeing him as a ‘Big Man’. But it quickly becomes clear who Tommy thinks is the real ‘Big Man’. Himself.

When Nick is finally sprung from Sing-Sing, and now an informant for the Assistant District Attorney, Louis D’Angelo (Brian Donlevy), Nick finds everyone knows Tommy. And everyone rolls out the red carpet for him. Tommy has somehow acquired an unhealthy loyalty and countless underworld connections. Ultimately, these people fear Tommy Udo.

The fear is justified. In the well documented incident, where Attorney Howser needs to have suspected squealer, Pete Rizzo silenced. Tommy, unable to find Rizzo, sends wheelchair bound Mrs. Rizzo (Mildred Dunnock), bouncing down a stairway to her death. Mr. Udo is all at once menacing, gleeful, and full-on psychotic, as he feels extreme pleasure in sending the elderly woman helplessly to her doom.

This most famous scene from Kiss of Death, is justifiably still shocking today. The act itself is certainly the action of a heartless individual. You see Tommy’s wheels turning as he figures out the best course of action to take. Heartless? No, the bar is raised to pure evil.

Tommy Udo is one of those guys who goes from fun loving man about town to homicidal maniac in a split second. It’s hard to determine in which state he is the happiest. Tommy kind of reminds me of Frank Gorshin’s version of The Riddler. Hyper kinetic energy without the spider monkey moves. He bores easily yet is very methodical when it comes to getting what he wants.

In Nick’s final showdown with Tommy, the scene plays out slowly. Tommy assures Nick that they are going to, ‘…keep on being pals and having fun. Lots of fun. You, me…your wife…’. Nick’s not backing down, Tommy can’t help himself and drastically does something rash.

I watched Kiss of Death for the first time back in the 80s and was among the first noir films I’d seen. I’ve seen it many times since. It’s actually taken me a long time to realize that Richard Widmark is only in a third of the film. Yes, he’s fourth billed, but as an over-powering character that one third presence perfectly balances Victor Mature’s character and performance.

Tommy Udo is a character presence that defines Nick Bianco, and Nick’s ultimate destiny. This fortunately doesn’t take away from Victor Mature, who proves that he was a better actor than he led us to believe. And gave Richard Widmark screen immortality.

Kiss of Death is available on DVD from Fox Home Video, or can be streamed on Plex or YouTube.