Ernest Hemingway is a prolific writer from the 1920s to the 1950s.
His writings, which are famously sparse and understated, remain classics in the literary world.
Overall, Hemingway wrote seven novels, six short-story collections, and two non-fiction projects.
Of these various works, many of them have been adapted to the screen.
In fact,some Hemingway stories have been adaptedmore than once.
For example,For Whom the Bell Tollshas two movie adaptations and one television depiction.
Similarly,A Farewell to Armshas two movies, one from 1932 and another from 1957.
However, one Hemingway story enjoys the most on-screen adaptations of all.
It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Director.
Plus, it currently holds a 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The success ofThe Killerscan be attributed both to Hemingway and the 1946 filmmakers.
They expand the story in a way that keeps audiences invested.
Furthermore, thefilm noir style of the moviegivesThe Killersa strong sense of setting and ambiance.
The movie’s strong cast, including Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner, also helps the movie succeed.
In fact, all these factors continue to makeThe Killersa thrilling watch, even over 70 years later.
Despite this gap, it continues to be an engaging and powerful story.
The aspect ofThe Killersthat makes it so popular likely is its bluntness.
Hemingway was known for writing punchy, brief stories that left out much of the story’s greater context.
In some ways,The Killersis an extreme version of this.
In under 3000 words, Hemingway introduces and solves a strange crime.
More importantly, he explores important themes about death, the human experience, and the meaning of life.
Though his addition makes the film less accurate to the book, it becomes more intriguing that way.
In this way,The Killersmovie adds an edge of mystery that Hemingway’s story doesn’t quite have.
All in all,The Killersis definitely a worthwhile watch- or read.
It is no mistake that 1946’sThe Killersis one of the few adaptations of his work thatErnest Hemingwayactually liked.
