The Killing by Stanley Kubrick (1956, 83 min.). This early Kubrick film has all the hallmarks of a classic film noir—a femme fatale, expressive shadows, and a sinister scheme—as a group of gangsters tries to bring down a racetrack. Kubrick introduces us to each of the players, who only know their role in the heist and nothing more. Humorous, razor-sharp dialogue from pulp novelist Jim Thompson gives life to this unique cast of characters. The editing and soundtrack punctuate the film’s dramatic ending and gives us a preview of Kubrick’s more ambitious works.