A hierro muere

Kill and Be Killed is a very fun Argentinian noir-esque thriller starring Olga Zubarry (Dubarry in the credits) as, Elisa, a former jewel thief who has been released from a five-year stint in prison and, with the help of her mother, she procures a job working as a nurse for a retired prima donna opera singer; her mother happens to be the singer's caretaker. Just as Elisa is settling into her nursing duties, she meets and is smitten by, Fernando, the singer's debonair nephew.

We soon discover that Fernando is a womanizing, broke, leech who hangs around the estate just to receive hand-outs from his aunt. Elisa, who is ignorant of Fernanando's debauchery, falls in love with the slob and the two make plans on poisoning the aunt and running away to get married. Of course, Fernando has no intention of consummating the courtship, as he has his eyes on a young, beautiful cabaret singer.

I don't want to spoil anything for you but the film spins a wonderful web of suspicion and uncertainty involving a meddling doctor, the meddling doctor's son, a cold-blooded murder, a doubting detective, Hitchcockian train shenanigans and an ending to satisfy any noir fan.

The story and the acting are excellent but it is the cinematography by Manuel Berenguer that is the real star; his use of high-contrast lighting, fluid camera movements and complex framing add to the suspense and rivals anything coming out of France at the time.

I highly recommend this one.

Elisa (Olga Zubarry), a proud woman, after serving an 8-year sentence, leaves prison and tries to join society by working as a nurse in the home of a wealthy old woman, a former opera diva, and where her mother (Ana María Nóe) works as a governess. Fernando (Alberto de Mendoza), her typical capricious nephew, becomes involved with Elisa, falling in love with her and then they both hatch a twisted criminal plan. They scheme to kill his aunt by poisoning her through a simple change of medications, but of course things don't go as they expected.

This is a wonderful Spanish-Argentine co-production, being really a remake of the Argentine film ¨A Sangre Fría¨ (1947) directed by Daniel Tinayre, resulting in one of the purest examples of the Spanish Noir genre, since we are not facing a simple story of betrayal that does not judge the characters, but only seeks a framework in which to expose the overwhelming anguish. Here our protagonists decide to unite their interests, despite the pessimism that permeates the environment. The starring is a true Femme Fatale and the narrative point of view links us to her decisions and even her mistakes. Including some clear references to prison cinema, although breaking with the regenerative tendencies of the Spanish penitentiary institutions of that time, something that we do find in films such as ¨Almas en peligro (Antonio Santillán)¨, ¨Compadece al criminal (Eusebio Fernández Ardavin)¨ and Elena (Jesús Pascual). This is a decent suspense melodrama from notable director Manuel Mur Oti. The film consists of two different parts, the preparation of a crime and the investigation by the police inspectors well played by Luis Prendes and José Nieto. It is based on a novel by director Luis Saslvasky and contains excellent black and white photography by Manuel Berenguer. The film has a splendid cast of main and supporting actors, both Argentine and Spanish. Olga Zubarry plays competently Elisa, the young ex-convict who initially wants a quiet life but everything turns her upside down. Alberto Mendoza plays Fernando Sempere very well, the lazy and dissolute nephew of the rich aunt and boyfriend of the cabaret artist performed by the beautiful Katia Loritz. Among the magnificent support cast we find the following: Luis Prendes, José Nieto, Jorge Vico, Jose Bódalo, Manuel Dicenta, Luis Peña, Jesús Tordesillas, Ana María Noé, José Marco Davó, Félix Dafauce, Tota Alba, Pilar Gómez Ferrer, among others.

Filmed mainly in studios, specifically in Chamartin studios, Av. De Burgos n.º 5, Chamartín de la Rosa. Deploying an atmospheric and intriguing musical score by cameramen Miguel Asins Arbó and Isidro B. Maiztegui. The motion picture was compellingly and professionally directed by Manuel Mut Oti. He was a multifaceted man, since he worked as a writer, producer and director, since he began writing scripts for the filmmaker Antonio Del Amo, his film debut being "Un Hombre Va Por El Camino" 1949, he continued directing some films such as " Cielo Negro " 1951, " Orgullo (Pride)" 1955, "El batallón de las sombras (The Battalion of Shadows)", "El escuadrón del pánico (The Panic Squad)". Then, he filmed comedies such as "La guerra empieza en Cuba (War Begins in Cuba)", "A Girl From Chicago" and "Pescando Millones". And even genre religious such as "Milagro a Los Cobardes" with the American star Ruth Román. His greatest success was "Fedra la hija del diablo", and he directed two films with an international cast such as "Morir Dormir tal vez Soñar" with Jane Seymour and "La Encadenada", a nice Giallo-thriller starring Marisa Mell and Richard Conte. Rating A hierro muere (To Iron Dies) (1962): 7.5/10. Notorious dramatic Noir film that will appeal to suspense enthusiasts.