Blast of Silence

United States

1961

77 Min

Black and White

1.33:1

English

Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
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CAST Allen Baron, Molly McCarthy, Larry Tucker, Peter H. Clune, Danny Meehan, Howard Mann, Charles Creasap

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. —The Criterion Collection

Director

Allen Baron

Allen Baron (born in 1927, Brooklyn, New York, USA) is an American actor, film and television director. He is mostly known for writing and directing in 1961 the film noir Blast of Silence, where he also plays the lead role. He went on to direct four other feature films and hundreds of television episodes such as Charlie’s Angels, The Dukes of Hazzard, Kolchak and Cagney & Lacey. —Wikipedia

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mjgildea

29Jan13

After enjoying but not being thoroughly impressed with Blast of Silence initially, subsequent viewings did a hell of a lot more for me. It was like Sin City's neurotic, blue-collar deadbeat dad. A fast, nasty and quick watch that really impresses, especially when you stop & realize its 50 years old.

Worm

29Nov12

I kind of wish those long scenes of him walking were a little more inspired, but this was a great noir with some 60's edge to it.

biganeh

27Aug12

You don't have to know a man to live with him. But you have to know a man like a brother to kill him.

GaffordKINO

21Jun12

The opening narration sucks you in, and you're immediately on the Blast of Silence train, taking a ride into the life and mind of Frankie Bono. The winter air of New York is as cold and unforgiving as the life of a hitman. A cool gem of early low-budget, American filmmaking.