The Killers (1946 Robert Siodmak)

A tense beginning in which two killers turn up at a small town diner, announcing they're going to kill 'The Swede' - within 12 minutes a shadowy Burt Lancaster has been murdered. That is the entirety of Hemingway's short story, published in 1927. Insurance man Edmond O'Brien then takes up the story and - Citizen Kane like - begins to piece it together with other people's flashbacks. A twisty tale follows, imagined by Anthony Veiller and John Huston (the latter claims he didn't take a screen credit for fear of upsetting Warner Bros.) and (also uncredited) Richard Brooks.

Without knowing who did what, the concept of the disparate group of criminals brought together to pull off a robbery and then falling apart is very recognisably a Huston scenario.

Albert Dekker is the criminal organiser, Ava Garner his girl, Sam Levene the cop, Vince Barnett the older member of the gang, Virginia Christine (Sam's wife), Jack Lambert ('Dum-Dum'), Charles McGraw and William Conrad (the killers), Jeff Corey ('Blinky'), Queenie Smith (hotel), Phil Brown (garage assistant).

Good composition as story-telling: The Swede has fallen for Kitty Collins (who doesn't seem at all interested), his girlfriend Lilly is aware what's going on while ignoring the attempts of 'Blinky' to chat her up

Loved the hotel lady's flashback that goes straight into present rather than back to the story-teller. Siodmak's direction is assured.

Mikloz Rosza's four note motif has sadly become so much copied as a slightly comic danger announcer that it seems corny in suspense moments, as does death bed flashback, but these are small carps, or minnows, if you prefer.

Produced by tough ex-journalist Mark Hellinger for Universal. Photographed by Elwood Bredell.

Last seen almost exactly ten years ago - Christmas Eve 2009 - when I thought that it predated Memento by some way! Seems an odd choice for Christmas Eve, but in a way, it doesn't at all. In fact in the old days you'd expect Christmas late night telly to be full of old classics including films noir, but now you have to devise your own schedule. I like Film Noir Thursdays.