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Kiss of Death In August 27, 1947, Twentieth Century-Fox released the critically acclaimed, Kiss of Death. “A gripping melodrama. It is a genuine thriller, and it holds one in suspense almost every foot of the film, right from the start” (Harrison’s Report ). A gangster film that actually takes place on the streets, away from fake glossy sets and unnatural lighting. A grim story charged with increasing tension until the very end. A tale that deals with the obscure world of criminals and policemen of a big city. That deals with the darkest hallways of the human mind. How is it that a movie said to be “…not for the squeamish, for some the action is brutal and cruel.” (Harrison’s Report) get to be so positively reviewed by the critics? Are people looking for a more realistic type of movie? Did World War II have anything to do with this new type of movie? In general, according to all reviews of the time, the most impressive aspect about Kiss of Death was its realism. “It illustrates a new and vigorous trend in U.S. moviemaking. One of the best things that is happening in Hollywood is the tendency to move out of the place –to base fictional pictures on fact, and more importantly, to shoot them not in painted studio s