seymourblack-1 The visual style of this late-1950s crime thriller is typical of the period as it makes extensive use of outdoor locations, sets a great deal of its action in bright daylight and places the emphasis strongly on grittiness and realism. Less typical though, is its rather jaunty score and offbeat humour which play along with its observations on how closely the behaviour of a contract killer reflects the attitudes of the society from which he's emerged.After attending a job interview with Mr Moon (Michael Granger) and passing a test to prove that he has the necessary personal qualities, a young man named Claude (Vince Edwards) is hired as a contract killer. The well-educated, well-groomed and self-disciplined operative soon distinguishes himself by efficiently eliminating a couple of targets in Manhattan before stabbing Moon to death on the orders of the unseen Mr Brink, who's Moon's boss.Claude is an ambitious person whose desire to purchase a house adjacent to the Ohio River motivated him to abandon his secure, well-paid job so that he could earn the kind of money that would enable him to pay off his mortgage much sooner than would ever be possible if he'd remained in any more conventional form of employment. At $500 per hit, he's soon making the kind of progress he wants and is also given an opportunity to earn even more when he's sent to California to eliminate a key witness in a mob trial.In California he's met by Marc (Phillip Pine) and George (Herschel Bernardi) who also work for Brink. They're surprised by his relaxed attitude to his work and preference to go sightseeing before completing his contract. After giving himself sufficient time to be sure that his handlers aren't being followed, the ultra-confident and highly-professional hit-man checks out the property in which his target lives. He immediately recognises that this job will be challenging when he sees that the house is heavily guarded by police officers but things get even worse when he realises that the witness is a woman.He thinks that women present a special problem because they're not dependable and believes that he should be paid double his agreed fee for killing her. Unfortunately, however, he's left with no alternative but to proceed when he realises that, if he demands more money or doesn't fulfil his contract, he too will be guaranteed to be killed. Some shocking and dramatic developments then follow as Claude attempts to complete his mission whilst also becoming progressively more and more unstable.This movie's plot unfolds in a style that's lean, fast-moving and very direct. It's obviously a very low budget offering and does a great job of being entertaining and intriguing whilst also making some interesting points along the way. With consistently good performances from its talented cast and Vince Edwards outstanding as the cold-blooded hit-man who has a problem with his attitude to women, "Murder By Contract" is riveting to watch and definitely one that's not to be missed..

ben hibburd Murder by Contract Is regarded by Martin Scorsese as the film that has influenced him the most, and It's clear to see why. It's a cool, stylish noir, that was ahead of It's time, and It's clear to see It's Influence on films like L'assassino, Taxi Driver to name but a few.Vince Edwards has a magnetic screen presence In this film as he plays an Ice cool, calculating hit-man named Claude. Who's trying to break Into the hit-man business, rather then spending the next 20+ years working a regular job to buy a house. Claude Is methodical and precise In his business, never allowing for emotion to get In his way. He never uses a gun or knife, as he never does anything Illegal that can get him caught. He's meticulous In planning out every murder, which makes It Intriguing to see him go about organising his hits. Things soon become complicated when he discovers that his next target Is a woman, despite assuming she was a man. The contract Is made even more challenging as she has round the clock Police protection.Murder by Contract Is directed by Irving Lerner, and It has a fantastic stylish tone, It reminded me In a-lot of ways to Branded to Kill. He also does an efficient job of keeping the plot rolling without It every really lagging, except towards the end of the second act, when It plods along for about 10-15 minutes. Whilst It did have a couple of dull moments, and an ill thought out plot twist towards the end. It builds towards an effective, If minimalist climax that fits perfectly with the tone of the film.It's a shame this film has become slightly forgotten as It's clearly had a-lot of Influence on Cinema, this Is a film that's ripe for being re- discovered by a new generation of film lovers.

moonspinner55 Hit man in Ohio (Vince Edwards) is flown to Los Angeles for his next assignment, and is momentarily rattled to find his next 'hit' is a woman. Tense, low-budget drama from director Irving Lerner (formerly an editor) and screenwriter Ben Simcoe was finished in just over a week, yet it has a sharp visual style that catches one off-guard, also a crisp, clear look courtesy of cinematographer Lucien Ballard. Edwards, swaggering with self-confidence, is well up to the acting challenge of portraying a killer-for-hire with no conscience, though his enigmatic early scenes working for Michael Granger's slightly-skeptical Mr. Moon are the film's strongest moments. Once the action moves to the California coast, the movie becomes a bit more conventional. Composer Perry Botkin contributes a deceptively simple but memorable theme. **1/2 from ****

Lechuguilla A brainy, philosophical hit man named Claude (Vince Edwards) does things his way. He's careful, patient, and plans meticulously. To him, killing is just a sideline, a way to pick up a few extra bucks. There's nothing personal about it; emotions are not needed.I guess you could call this film a character study of a criminal, in the crime drama genre. But the film's main problem is a character that doesn't make sense. Given that Claude has a regular paying job, his motivation for wanting the extra money is dubious at best. Further, he tells us over and over that emotions don't pay. But when it comes time for the main contract his own feelings interfere. And he keeps making little speeches to others in an angry tone of voice. Maybe he just doesn't know himself very well.In addition, I didn't care for his two criminal sidekicks: Marc and George. Their presence explains a lot of the plot; but a real hit man would not need them.This is a low budget b-movie. The B&W cinematography is acceptable but bland. Some outdoor scenes are made using rear screen projection. Production values are sparse, especially indoor sets. But that spare, simple guitar score by Perry Botkin is terrific. It may be a spin-off of the score from "The Third Man"; but it's still great, and works quite well with the story. Vince Edwards gives a fine performance as Claude. Other performances range from mediocre to poor.The script is the main problem here, and in particular the central character. "Murder By Contract" is a quiet film with little heavy-duty action or noise. Which makes that guitar score so effective and the best element of the film, along with the presence of Vince Edwards.