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 Apr 14, 2008Allen 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...
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What Criterion-Eclipse Film will you see next for the first time?
6 posts by 5 people updated 22 days ago
Lionel Stander narration
3 posts by 3 people updated 3 months ago
Just watched Blast of Silence......
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