Blast of Silence (1961) - The Criterion Collection

Synopsis

Swift, brutal, and black-hearted, Allen Baron’s New York City noir Blast of Silence is a sensational surprise. This low-budget, carefully crafted portrait of a hit man on assignment in Manhattan during Christmastime follows its stripped-down narrative with mechanical precision, yet also with an eye and ear for the oddball idiosyncrasies of urban living and the imposing beauty of the city. At once visually ragged and artfully composed, and featuring rough, poetic narration performed by Lionel Stander, Blast of Silence is a stylish triumph.

Cast

Frank Bono	Allen Baron
Lori	Molly McCarthy
Big Ralph	Larry Tucker
Troinano	Peter H. Clune
Petey	Danny Meehan
Body guard	Howard Mann
Contact man	Charles Creasap

Credits

Director	Allen Baron
Producer	Merrill Brody
A production of	Dan Enright and Alfred Crown
Screenplay	Allen Baron
Narration written by	Waldo Salt
as	Mel Davenport
Music	Meyer Kupferman
Cinematography	Merrill Brody
Camera operator	Erich Kollmar
Editing	Peggy Lawson

Disc Features

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION:

New, restored digital transfer
Requiem for a Killer: The Making of “Blast of Silence”
Rare on-set Polaroids
Locations revisited in 2008
Theatrical trailer
PLUS A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Terrence Rafferty and a four-page graphic-novel adaptation of the film by acclaimed artist Sean Phillips (Criminal, Sleeper, Marvel Zombies)

From the Current

Blast of Silence: Bad Trip

by Terrence Rafferty Apr 14, 2008

Allen Baron’s stark, moody Blast of Silence (1961) is a movie of many strange distinctions. It’s among the last of the true film noirs, those fatalistic...