Greatest Murders in Cinema

For me, a really great Film Noir is the best thing in the world. And what does that need? A great murder.. and there are so many ways to kill and to be killed so I decided to list, The Greatest murder scenes in cinema.

They Drive By Night, 1940

Lana Carlson - Ida Lupino
Lana Carlson,  Married to a wealthy business man and in love with Joe, an employe of her husbands. She have many times pursued Joe only to over and over again be rejected, and getting more tired of her husband Lana one day sees her opportunity to get rid of him and hoping to net Joe, who has pointed out her marriage when ever she made an approach. So, after an enormous office party held by the Carlson's, Lana's  husband get extremely drunk and falls a sleep in the car. And using the electronic sensors to open or closing the garage door Lana makes a decision.  The scene were she looks at him, steps out of the car, starts to consider and then.. is unbelievably powerful,  Ida Lupino happens to be one of the finest actresses ever existed so this scene is so convincing I get goos bumps just thinking about it. The whole movie is incredible with both tough guys Bogart and Raft in it, a great noir and one of my favourite films, specially when it comes to performances. 

Night of the Hunter, 1955

Harry Powell - Robert Mitchum

Robert Mitchum plays a minister just released from prison with knowledge of a large hidden amount of money from a bank robbery, who takes himself down to the bank robbers widow to woo and marry her, only to find out she knows nothing of her late husbands hiding place. However, her two children are showing strange behaviour when the subject emerge and soon he starts to force the information out from the children. Since he has no need for his newly found bride  he decides she is only dead weight for him so during a speech the wife is doing in bed while he is gazes out through the window he picks out a small knife and makes his way to the bed. This could be one of the most beautifully morbid scenes I have ever laid my eyes on, the whole movie for that matter, bewitchingly shot in black and white with contrasts not common in 1955. I have spoken about this film many times since it is by far one of my all time favourite movies. In story, filming, acting and lightning it is so beyond its time and it is such an important film in cinema. Robert Mitchum is probably the only one who could make this performance,  for the reason that in my eyes he is undoubtedly the finest actor ever lived.

Strangers on a Train, 1951

Bruno Antony - Robert Walker

Bruno Antony, probably one of the more fascinating characters in cinema. A spoiled socialite with little to do meets a tennis star on a train and knowing about the stars messy personal life with his ex-wife and getting tired of his father always nagging him he proposes an idea of swapping murders, hence not getting caught since there would be no motive.  The tennis star, named Guy Haines,  thinks Bruno is pulling his leg laughs it off and continues off with his daily routine.  When he later gets a phone call from Bruno saying he has done his bit and now it is his turn to do his part of the deal. The scene of the murder is quite spectacular, Bruno follows the ex-wife and two male friend in to a carnival, and when she is alone he strikes, everything is seen through the woman's dropped glasses and it is exceptionally shot. In this area Hitchcock was the one and only master, he truly knows how to make interesting and original shots and that is why he is in my eyes the absolute greatest director in existence. 


So, for all of you who has not seen these three amazing movies, DO. 
Not only are the murder scenes first rate in all aspects, the films are as well.  Enjoy!