Blast of Silence

The more I find out about this film the more interesting it becomes to me. Originally released in 1961 Blast of Silence lived in relative obscurity until it began to be shown at various film festivals in the 1990s; however, it remained hard to get a glimpse of up until a few weeks ago when it got a Criterion Collection release. The film opens with a bleak narration about the birth of its main character Frank Bono, played by writer and director Allen Baron, while we see a train coming up out of a pitch black tunnel. From here on out [a mere 77 minutes] the somber mood of the film does not relent. Frank is a hired killer who has come to New York City during Christmas to take care of a local mobster, and of course he runs into some old friends from before his days as a trained assassin; all very typical of noir that came before and after it. The narration continues throughout the film and provides great insight into Bono's character and is even more interesting due to its use of the second person perspective. A life of contract killing has taken its tool on Baby Boy Frankie Bono, he is a portrait of isolation, alienation, and hate. Perhaps more than anything else it is the frankness with which Baron deals with this hate and alienation that sets the film apart from the many like it. Running into old friends Bono begins to question the life choices that have lead him to become something which is certainly less than human, but as we often see in film noir one can not ever escape from their past. Some of the film's greatest sequences are when Baron contrasts these character traits with the festive New York City environment and those wrapped up in it. Like many noir films Blast of Silence concludes pretty much how you would expect, but in such films plot usually is left on the back burner set aside to focus more throughly on character development. Since the film was made for practically nothing the roughness of it adds to the overall tone as does beautifully done music. Having just seen this film for the first time in 2008 it is hard to understand the impact it had, but anyone who has seen films such as Taxi Driver or other work by Scorcese and directors of his ilk will quickly see the influence. Blast of Silence is obviously a must see for any noir or crime film fans, but should also be given a chance by other more casual movie-goers. 

Some interesting side notes about the film:

- The writer/director/star Allen Baron spent most of the rest of his career directing episodes of TV shows such as Charlie's Angels and the Brady Bunch

- Larry Tucker who gives the film's best performance as Big Ralph was a writer and actor on The Monkees