In today’s episode, we speak with Dr. Robert Beshara Assistant Professor of Psychology and Humanities at Northern New Mexico College. He is also the founder of CriticalPsychology.org and a musician and composer. The music you hear in the background is istimtaa from Robert's excellent album, Horny Cricket (link in the show notes) For more information and Dr. Beshara's work, please visit www.robertbeshara.com
Today’s movie is The Killing, directed by Stanley Kubrick and released in 1956. I will read the Wikipedia synopsis for you now…
“The Killing is a 1956 American film noir directed by Stanley Kubrick and produced by James B. Harris. It was written by Kubrick and Jim Thompson and based on Lionel White's novel Clean Break. It stars Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, and Vince Edwards, and features Marie Windsor, Elisha Cook Jr., Jay C. Flippen and Timothy Carey.
Johnny Clay is a veteran criminal planning one last heist before settling down and marrying Fay. He plans to steal $2 million from the money-counting room of a racetrack during a featured race. Johnny assembles a team consisting of a corrupt cop, a betting window teller to gain access to the backroom, a sharpshooter to shoot the favorite horse during the race to distract the crowd and keep the winnings from being paid out, a wrestler to provide another distraction by provoking a fight at the track bar, and a track bartender.”
It’s a fantastic film and Robert is an insightful and fun person to talk to so I hope you enjoy.
Resources
Wiki entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_(film)
Jim Thompson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thompson_(writer)
Robert Beshara’s album, ‘Horny Cricket’ (we’ll feature music from this album during the show): https://hornycricket.bandcamp.com/album/istimt
American Film Institute Entry: https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/51890
Roger Ebert Review: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-killing-1956
Original Trailer: https://youtu.be/m9wMEDJuGnE
Sterling Hayden Interview: http://www.geraldpeary.com/interviews/ghi/
Making ‘The Killing’: An Auteur and His Writer:
https://vaguevisages.com/2023/03/24/the-killing-essay-stanley-kubrick-movie-film/