Murder by Contract (1958) review

Claude (Vince Edwards), who lives alone and needs work, gets a job as a contract killer, knocking off his first targets with relative efficiency, but when he's given the assignment of travelling to Los Angeles to take out a woman (Caprice Toriel) who's ready to testify in court and under 24-hour police protection, he's not sure how to get to her.  Even though it's a "B-picture," it has clear cult appeal (Perry Botkin's score is reminiscent of The Third Man) and is steadily paced: Claude going for a swim or golfing is treated with the same sense of calm as when he's ready to stab a guy or training with a bow-and-arrow.  The 'philosophical' dialogue can be ridiculous - he's a thinker, too! - and I didn't find the ending to be satisfying (what's the source of his issues with women?), though it has a sense of "coolness" that other, similar movies with larger budgets couldn't buy.