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3.1/10
Archivist John
Senior Editor
A definitive 3.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Big Killing remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have an hour and you like watching big guys look completely lost, you should probably check this one out. It is for people who find old-school slapstick cozy and don't mind a bit of dusty humor. If you hate 'hillbilly' stereotypes or that jittery 1920s over-acting, you will probably want to skip it.
Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton are the big draw here. They were a bit of a duo back then, almost like a rougher, weirder version of Laurel and Hardy. They just have this weird rhythm together that works even when the jokes are a bit thin.
The plot is about the Beagles and the Hickses. They have been shooting at each other in the mountains for as long as anyone can remember. It's your standard feud stuff, but with way more hats and facial hair.
The Hickses get tired of the stalemate and decide to hire some 'professional' killers. They want to finish the Beagles once and for all. Enter Beery and Hatton, who the Hickses think are legendary sharpshooters.
The problem is they are just two bumbling guys who really need a paycheck. They look like they have never even seen a mountain before, let alone a rifle.
One scene that really got me was when they first arrive at the Hicks cabin. Beery looks so uncomfortable in his own skin. He has this way of blinking his eyes that makes him look like a very confused bear trying to understand a math problem.
It is funny because Herman J. Mankiewicz actually helped write this. You know, the guy who wrote Citizen Kane. You can’t really see the 'genius' in the script here, though. It feels more like a lot of improv and physical gags that they made up on the spot.
There is a bit with a rifle during a target practice scene that goes on for a while. It is almost too long, but Beery's face keeps it alive. He tries to act tough while his hands are shaking like leaves.
The sets look like they were built in an afternoon. There are lots of fake trees and rocks that look like they would bounce if you accidentally dropped one. It gives the whole thing a stage-play feel that I actually kind of liked.
Mary Brian is the love interest, I guess. She doesn’t have much to do besides look worried and stand in the background. It's a bit of a waste, but that’s how these movies usually went for the actresses.
The feud stuff is pretty standard. You’ve seen it in a million cartoons. But what is weird is how the movie treats the actual killing. It is called The Big Killing but it stays pretty light and goofy until the very end.
I noticed a dog in the background of one shot that looked genuinely bored with the whole production. It made me laugh harder than the actual jokes for a second. It just sat there while people were 'shooting' at each other.
Hatton is the skinny one who tries to act smart. He is a good foil for Beery’s bulk. He spends a lot of time trying to look dignified while his clothes are falling apart.
If you have seen Oh, Baby! or maybe It Must Be Love, you know the vibe. It is not a masterpiece. It is just a way to spend an hour watching people fall down in the dirt.
The pacing gets a bit wonky in the second act. They spend a lot of time just walking through the 'woods.' I found myself looking at the costumes more than the plot. Everyone is wearing these huge, scratchy-looking sweaters that must have been boiling to wear on a studio set.
The ending feels a bit rushed. It is like they ran out of film or the sun was going down and they had to wrap it up. It doesn't really matter, though. You aren't here for a tight plot.
I liked it, mostly. It has a charm that modern comedies usually miss because they try too hard to be clever. Sometimes you just want to see a big guy look scared of a tiny mountain man with a shotgun.
The print I saw was a bit scratchy and had some 'rain' on the lens. It added to the feeling, I think. It felt like finding an old toy in a basement.
Anyway, it is a solid silent flick. Not the best thing ever made, but it's got soul. 🎬
IMDb —
1925
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