Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Film / KissMeDeadly

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:


* RatedMForManly: Mike Hammer is a vicious deconstruction of this trope.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* FeetFirstIntroduction: Soberin is introduced with a shot of his highly-polished wingtip shoes; until his final scene, all the audience sees of him are his lower legs and feet.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* CreativeClosingCredits: [[InvertedTrope Opening credits, that is.]] They're shown in reverse order, descending from the top of the screen in a scroll. Meeker's credit appears like this:

to:

* CreativeClosingCredits: [[InvertedTrope Opening credits, that is.]] They're shown in reverse order, descending from the top of the screen in a scroll. The title is thus rendered as [-DEADLY' 'KISS ME-], while Meeker's credit appears like this:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
"... didn't existed"?


* AdaptationalMundanity: Inverted: the "Great Whatsit" and everything related to it didn't existed in the Hammer story that inspired this film, [[spoiler:and although Gabrielle still goes off like a Roman candle in it, it's because it is revealed she constantly slathers herself in alcohol to stave off the pain of a highly-burned body and Hammer exploits it with a ReusableLighterToss.]]

to:

* AdaptationalMundanity: Inverted: the "Great Whatsit" and everything related to it didn't existed exist in the Hammer story that inspired this film, [[spoiler:and although Gabrielle still goes off like a Roman candle in it, it's because it is revealed she constantly slathers herself in alcohol to stave off the pain of a highly-burned body and Hammer exploits it with a ReusableLighterToss.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* PetTheDog: Mike's genuine friendship for Nick the mechanic and also his unusual (for the times) friendship and rapport with a couple of African American characters in the film.

to:

* PetTheDog: Mike's genuine friendship for Nick the mechanic and also his unusual (for the times) friendship and rapport with a couple of African American characters in the film. He also helps the old man up the steps with his luggage, and although he does end up benefitting from it shortly after, in the moment it seems he's genuinely being nice.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* GainaxEnding: one of the most infamous in Hollywood history. After 90 minutes of fairly typical film noir plotting, [[spoiler:"Lily" opens the briefcase after Soberin desperately warned her not to. Whatever is inside, apparently nuclear in nature, instantly consumes the entire house in fire while releasing an unearthly, demonic screech and the film just ''ends'' while Mike and Velda are scrambling for safety.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* DeadPersonImpersonation: Gabrielle is pretending to be Lily Carver, though Mike doesn't find out she's dead until it's too late.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* [[invoked]]RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/ClorisLeachman as Christina Bailey.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* StockScream: When Hammer crushes the coroner's fingers, his screams are the same used in ''Film/KingKong1933''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ACH002831145_1308762021_580x580_9762.jpg]]

to:

[[quoteright:300:https://static.[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ACH002831145_1308762021_580x580_9762.jpg]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* PlotTriggeringDeath: Christina's death.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* AffablyEvil: The erudite and philosophical Dr. Soberin, made more ironic by how brutally he handles people to get what he wants.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* TechnologyMarchesOn: Mike has an answering machine that was ahead of its time in the 1950s but looks dated or obsolete to modern audiences.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Mike has an answering machine that was ahead of its time in the 1950s but looks dated or obsolete to modern audiences.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* FemmeFatale: Lily Carver, who tricks Mike into thinking she's an innocent damsel but is actually an impostor, and a murderous one to boot.

to:

* FemmeFatale: Lily [[spoiler:Lily Carver, who tricks Mike into thinking she's an innocent damsel but is actually an impostor, and a murderous one to boot.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* AdaptationalVillainy: This film did not do Mike Hammer any favors. Whereas in the books Hammer was merely a standard Private Eye ({{Jerkass}} at times, but otherwise good), this movie made him a goddamn ''{{sadist}}.'' He's honestly not much better than the people he's up against. Its one of the reasons that Mickey Spillane didn't like the film was because it made the anti-heroic but otherwise moral Mike Hammer into an amoral, {{narcissist}}ic dick.

to:

* AdaptationalVillainy: This film did not do Mike Hammer any favors. Whereas in the books Hammer was merely a standard Private Eye ({{Jerkass}} at times, but otherwise good), this movie made him a goddamn ''{{sadist}}.'' He's honestly not much better than the people he's up against. Its This is one of the reasons that Mickey Spillane didn't like the film was because it made the anti-heroic but otherwise moral Mike Hammer into an amoral, {{narcissist}}ic dick.film.



* CoolCar: Mike's two seat white Jaguar convertible.

to:

* CoolCar: Mike's two seat two-seat white Jaguar convertible.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Correcting a wrongly written word.


* AdaptationalMundanity: Inverted: the "Great Whatsit" and everything related to it didn't existed in the Hammer story that inspired this film, [[spoiler:and although Gabrielle still goes off like a Roman candle in it, it's because it is revealed she constantly slathers herself in alcohol tobstave off the pain of a highly-burned body and Hammer exploits it with a ReusableLighterToss.]]

to:

* AdaptationalMundanity: Inverted: the "Great Whatsit" and everything related to it didn't existed in the Hammer story that inspired this film, [[spoiler:and although Gabrielle still goes off like a Roman candle in it, it's because it is revealed she constantly slathers herself in alcohol tobstave to stave off the pain of a highly-burned body and Hammer exploits it with a ReusableLighterToss.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* AdaptationalMundanity: Inverted: the "Great Whatsit" and everything related to it didn't existed in the Hammer story that inspired this film, [[spoiler:and although Gabrielle still goes off like a Roman candle in it, it's because it is revealed she constantly slathers herself in alcohol tobstave off the pain of a highly-burned body and Hammer exploits it with a ReusableLighterToss.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ThatMysteriousThing: "Great Whatsit". Justified as it's ClassifiedInformation.

to:

* ThatMysteriousThing: ThatMysteriousThing or "Great Whatsit". Justified as it's ClassifiedInformation.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* TheMysteriousThing: "Great Whatsit". Justified as its ClassifiedInformation.

to:

* TheMysteriousThing: ThatMysteriousThing: "Great Whatsit". Justified as its it's ClassifiedInformation.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* TheMysteriousThing: "Great Whatsit". Justified as its ClassifiedInformation.
-->'''Lt. Pat Murphy:''' Now listen, Mike. Listen carefully. I'm going to pronounce a few words. They're harmless words. Just a bunch of letters scrambled together. But their meaning is very important. Try to understand what they mean. "Manhattan Project, Los Alamos, Trinity."
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* MinorCrimeRevealsMajorPlot: The kidnapping and murder of Christine reveals a plot to steal some sort of ghastly nuclear device.

to:

* MinorCrimeRevealsMajorPlot: The Christine's kidnapping and murder of Christine reveals a plot to steal some sort of ghastly nuclear device.



* TheUnReveal: The mysterious briefcase. All we see is that it gives off a blindingly bright glow (possibly nuclear in origin).
* WhamShot: After a good while of appearing to just be a standard issue film noir, Mike opens the case and finds it's a [[spoiler:brightly glowing ''something'' that makes an ungodly screech]], bringing the story into science fiction or even fantasy out of nowhere.

to:

* TheUnReveal: TheUnreveal: The mysterious briefcase. All we see is that it gives off a blindingly bright glow (possibly nuclear in origin).
* WhamShot: After a good while of appearing to just be a standard issue film noir, Mike opens the case and finds it's a [[spoiler:brightly glowing ''something'' that makes an ungodly ''ungodly'' screech]], bringing the story into science fiction or even fantasy out of nowhere.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:The film ends with the "Great Whatsit" being opened by Gabrielle, who screams in agony as she (and the beach house) go up like a Roman candle. The only survivors are Mike and Velda, who stagger out into the sea terrified and confused as Hell seems to come to Earth.]]

to:

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:The film ends with the "Great Whatsit" being opened by Gabrielle, who screams in agony as she (and the beach house) go goes up like a Roman candle. The only survivors are Mike and Velda, who stagger out into the sea terrified and confused as Hell seems to come to Earth.]]



* RuleOfSymbolism: The horrific ungodly screeches made by the "Great Whatsit" at the film's climax sound more like TheLegionsOfHell than [[spoiler:a subcritical nuclear reactor core going critical]].

to:

* RuleOfSymbolism: The horrific ungodly screeches made by the "Great Whatsit" at the film's climax sound more like TheLegionsOfHell than [[spoiler:a subcritical sub-critical nuclear reactor core going critical]].

Top