Day 6 of Noirvember: Vince Edwards Noir

For some, actor Vince Edwards is best known as the title character on TV’s Ben Casey, which ran for five years on ABC in the 1960s. Others remember him as Maj. Cliff Bricker in the 1968 war film The Devil’s Brigade, starring William Holden and Cliff Robertson.

But I know him for his standout performances in two noirs: The Killing (1956) and Murder By Contract (1958). Interestingly, they happen to be two of my favorites. Today’s Noirvember post zeroes in on these pictures and the fascinating characters that Vince Edwards brought to life.

— Val and Sherry. Sittin’ in a tree…

The Killing (1956)

This feature stars Sterling Hayden as the ringleader of a motley crew that unites to pull off an intricately planned racetrack heist. The group includes a uniform cop in debt for gambling (Ted de Corsia), a bartender caring for his invalid wife (Joe Sawyer), and mousy racetrack cashier George Peatty (Elisha Cook, Jr.). George is married to statuesque blonde Sherry (Marie Windsor), who wed George on the strength of his lofty promises of a Park Avenue apartment and “a different car for every day of the week.” As it turns out, George’s cashier salary hasn’t provided the means for these luxuries and Sherry’s not exactly staying at home, darning socks and whipping up delicious meals. Instead, she’s got a boy toy on the side, by the name of Val Cannon – played by Edwards.

— Don’t mess with this dude.

Val is one sexy (and startingly hairy) dude, but he’s no pushover. As deeply as Sherry would like to sink her hooks into him, he’s not going to be tied down. In one scene, when Sherry questions his whereabouts from the night before, Val matter-of-factly makes it clear that he’s a free agent. “What I do is my business,” he tells her. “I gotta live my life a certain way. I can’t stand it when the walls start closing in.” Sherry’s not deterred by this declaration, though – any jealousy or misgivings she might have are far outweighed by her overwhelming attraction to Val. And who can blame her? Edwards plays this character like a confident jungle cat with magnetism to spare.

He’s also not just a pretty face. When Sherry tells him about the upcoming robbery, Val figures out a way to snag the $2 million in stolen cash for himself. Unfortunately for him – like all of the fellas involved in this venture – the best-laid plans often go awry.

— Cool as cracked ice.

Murder By Contract (1958)

A unique film released toward the end of the noir era, Murder By Contract stars Edwards as Claude (no last name, thank you), an efficient hitman who gets more than he bargained for when he’s hired to bump off a pianist. The problem isn’t the musical instrument – it’s that the person who plays it is a woman, and Claude doesn’t like killing women. “Women don’t stand still,” Claude explains. “When they move, it’s hard to figure out why or wherefore. They’re not dependable. It’s tough to kill somebody who’s not dependable.”

— Claude doesn’t like this.

Edwards’s Claude is cooler than the other side of the pillow, but he’s multifaced as well. He’s emotionless and cold-blooded when it comes to the execution (no pun intended) of his craft. He’s smart, with a penchant for conceiving inventive schemes to dispatch his victims. He’s forward-thinking; his decision to become a hired killer stemmed from his desire to purchase a house on the Ohio River, and he keeps copious financial notes as he works toward his goal. And he demonstrates yet another, completely different side of his personality when he travels to Los Angeles for the hit on the pianist. It’s his first visit to the City of Angels and instead of learning more about his target and devising his plan to kill her, Claude spends his time snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean, deep sea fishing, and playing mini golf – he’s like a kid in a toy factory.

Both The Killing and Murder By Contract are available for free on YouTube. If you’re unfamiliar with Vince Edwards foray into the shadowy world of noir, do yourself a favor and check these out.

You won’t be sorry.

And join me tomorrow for Day 7 of Noirvember!

~ by shadowsandsatin on November 6, 2023.