Voiceover & narration

Alan K. Rode

and Stanley's partner and collaborator over three films and a fine director in his own right, Jim Harris remains with us at age 93, and I'll be referring to some of his published observations and comments. One of the killing's distinctive attributes is this voiceover narration by the legendary Art Gilmore, who should have been credited but wasn't.

1:27 · jump to transcript →

Alan K. Rode

I've read that this voiceover was imposed on Kubrick and Harris by United Artists, and some believe it detracts or dates the film. And I'm not one of those who feel that way. I grew up listening to Gilmore's voice on literally thousands of movie previews and television shows like Highway Patrol. For me, the voice of Art Gilmore is always a welcome presence. The cast of The Killing is a virtual character actor hall of fame, and this wasn't by happenstance.

1:56 · jump to transcript →

Alan K. Rode

Don't make it sound so ominous. It's not like you're going to eat me alive. I'll make you do that. The fade-out implies the sex occurring between Vince and Marie. All we need is a voiceover saying, and the next morning, or having them eat bacon and eggs in the morning at the breakfast table.

16:51 · jump to transcript →

In contrast to his trouble with pictures, Antoine now reveals himself as a writer of sorts, as we glimpse him writing his testament in graffiti on the classroom wall. He has a kind of creative knack, that is, but it seems always to come out in socially unacceptable ways. Note that we hear the testament in Antoine's off-camera voiceover, even though our eyes are taken back to the schoolyard.

5:37 · jump to transcript →