Stanley Kubricks second film, Killers Kiss was summed up by one influential critic as an experiment in esoterica. Filmed on a budget of $40,000 (raised by Kubricks relatives), the 65-minute, black-and-white drama is a true noir film, shot mostly at night in a variety of seedy Manhattan locations. The plot concerns the efforts of boxer Jamie Smith (who also narrates the film) to rescue nightclub dancer Irene Kane from the lecherous maneuvers of club owner Frank Silvera. The much-admired climax finds Smith, Silvera, and the villains henchmen pursuing each other in a warehouse filled with grotesque-looking store mannequins. Director-writer-photographer-editor Kubrick didnt like the happy ending imposed on the film by its distributor (United Artists), but it was a lot more logical and satisfying than the filmmakers own planned denouement. The imperiled leading lady Irene Kane later became famous as TV commentator and journalist Chris Chase; also appearing in the film is Kubricks then-wife Ruth Sobotka. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide