The picture was based on Ernest Hemingway’s 1927 short story, “The Killers,” which was first adapted for the screen in the 1946 Universal Pictures release of the same name, starring Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner (see entry). According to the 14 Aug 1963 DV, the film began as a made-for-television project under the title Johnny North, to be produced for NBC-TV by Revue Productions, owned by MCA, and released through Universal Pictures. The project was billed as the “first two-hour feature film” ever to be made for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). The 14 Aug 1963 Var reported it would be the first in a series of features produced by MCA/Revue for NBC. A 1 Sep 1963 start date was anticipated. By mid-Aug 1963, asting was still underway, but the script, written by Gene L. Coon, had been completed.
       On 7 Nov 1963, DV indicated that the picture was still not cast, although principal photography was expected to begin within ten days. Pending the success of the television film, twenty-nine additional “two-hour telefilms” would be produced as part of Revue’s deal with NBC.
       The 13 Nov 1963 Var announced that Donald Siegel would produce and direct, and filming would take place at Revue Studios in Universal City, CA (later renamed Universal Studios). The 15 Nov 1963 DV stated that Lee Marvin had been hired for a lead role, with production tentatively set to start on 21 Nov 1963. Four days later, a DV brief noted that Angie Dickinson and John Cassavetes had joined the cast. A four-week shooting schedule was expected, reportedly the longest schedule ever granted to a television production, and the picture was set to be filmed in color, marking another television first.
       According to the 21 Nov 1963 DV, the start of production was delayed due to rainy weather, as the first scenes scheduled to be shot were of an auto race held at the Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, CA. Principal photography was delayed until 25 Nov 1963, and the race location had to be moved to the Ascot Park racetrack in Gardena, CA, where a “jalopy race” would be filmed. Sometime afterward, the company was slated to return to the Riverside track for two days of filming. Some scenes were filmed on location at an apartment building in Beverly Hills, CA, on 10 Dec 1963, as stated in the following day’s DV.
       The 27 Dec 1963 DV announced that production on Johnny North was in its fifth week of shooting, and noted a $750,000 budget. On 31 Dec 1963, DV reported that twenty-four blind children from the Foundation for the Junior Blind were used as background actors in the film. The 4 Dec 1963 and 6 Dec 1963 issues of DV added Alvin Rogers and Tom Golden to the cast. Producer-director Siegel also appeared onscreen as a diner cook. The 3 Jan 1964 DV named Mary Never as a dancer, and indicated that filming had recently been completed.
       On 15 Jan 1964, DV noted that NBC-TV had invested $300,000 towards the total budget, with MCA-Revue funding the balance. During the early phases of production, NBC had reportedly objected to the film’s violence, but withdrew their objections after Siegel’s appeal. Siegel did make changes to a scene that had been written before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on 22 Nov 1963, as it had originally depicted a sniper shooting at a victim from atop a roof.
       In early 1964, NBC had yet to set an air-date at that time, but the picture was expected to be released theatrically in Europe following its television premiere. The 28 Jan 1964 NYT suggested that NBC might release the picture in the fall of 1964 on Wednesday nights as part of a series tentatively titled “Project 120.” On 12 Feb 1964, DV announced that NBC’s Wednesday night time slot was no longer being held for Johnny North. According to the 26 Feb 1964 Var, disagreements between MCA and NBC resulted in Johnny North and “Project 120” being “suddenly delayed a year, or…indefinitely postponed.” However, one week later, the 4 Mar 1964 Var reported that NBC would “definitely” be going ahead with the MCA project. NBC ordered MCA to produce four-to-six additional “telepics,” and had agreed to fund $300,000 toward each of the future productions, set to be televised weekly.
       The 20 Mar 1964 and 23 Mar 1964 issues of DV announced that following NBC’s complaints of the film’s excessive sex and violence, a “top-level” decision was made to pull the project from NBC and instead release it theatrically. Changing the title to Hemingway’s “The Killers,” Universal planned to debut the picture in U.S. theaters that summer. The decision would reportedly not affect negotiations for future televised films to be created for NBC by MCA/Revue.
       The film was reviewed in the 26 May 1964 DV under the simplified title, The Killers. The New York City opening occurred on 17 Jul 1964, as indicated in the 18 Jul 1964 NYT, and the 20 Aug 1964 LAT reported that the picture was currently in release in Los Angeles-area theaters.
       The Killers marked the last feature film appearance of Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), who made his debut in the 1937 Warner Bros. film Love Is on the Air (see entry). Following two terms as Governor of California (1967-1975), Reagan served two terms as President of the United States (1981-1990).