The Big Heat
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Movie Reviews of The Big Heat
Movie Review: Fritz Lang 'Essesntial' Noir Showcases Actresses...
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Big Heat", Fritz Lang's concise, hard-hitting Noir drama, both defines the genre in it's 'mature' form (with the obligatory black and white, high contrast photography, a short running time, a hero, portrayed by Glenn Ford, who teeters between justice and vengeance, and villains, particularly Lee Marvin, every bit as shaded and complex as Ford), and tosses in, almost casually, a fascinating subtext, that the three central female characters of the film are, in fact, as essential as their male counterparts, and even more interesting! Portrayed by Jocelyn Brando (Marlon's older sister), Jeanette Nolan, and the fabulous Gloria Grahame, they are not only pivital to the plot, but actually become the characters you're most likely to leave the film talking about.
Beginning with the suicide of a cop 'on the take', who leaves a letter exposing the mob's connections with the police and local government, the film first introduces Nolan, as a less-than-grieving widow, who steals the letter, and uses it as leverage to enjoy 'the good life'. An underrated actress, usually cast in sweet-natured supporting 'grandmotherly' roles, Nolan here gets to cut loose, blackmailing the mob while tossing false 'leads' to cop Ford, and adjusting her 'image' to suit whatever situation she faces. Her portrayal, alone, would make this an extraordinary film!
Ford, the dedicated, honest homicide detective, has a history of ruffling official feathers to find the truth, and much of his strength comes from the love and support of wife Brando. Not your 'traditional' 50s wife, she 'samples' his drinks and food, hints at her satisfying sex life (remarkable, in itself!), and casually smokes while preparing dinner, sweetly bantering with her husband. In the smallest of the central female roles, it is easy to 'lose' her, between the flashier performances of Nolan and Grahame, but, in fact, she is the catalyst of the plot, whose untimely demise would set the chain of events in motion.
Then there is Gloria Grahame, the 'party girl' mistress of enforcer Lee Marvin...wisecracking, and blissfully ignorant of the risks she takes in verbally 'jabbing' her boyfriend's relationship to mob boss Alexander Scourby, she grabs the screen, each scene she's in, and makes Marvin's performance, as a genial yet psychopathic sadist, even better. When she warms up to Ford, she is rewarded with a pot of scalding coffee in the face, disfiguring her, and providing the hook to blow things wide-open...
Three powerhouse performances, by three terrific actresses!
Fritz Lang's American film work was always remarkable, and "The Big Heat" showcased him at the top of his form.
The film is, deservedly, a classic!
Movie Review: A first-rate film noir crime thriller!
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for the 2001 Columbia/Tristar DVD.
The movie opens with a policeman committing suicide in his home. His wife immediately finds him dead and reads a suicide note. Instead of calling the police, she first calls a major crime syndicate boss named Mike Lagana (Alexander Scourby). The police eventually arrive at the dead policeman's house and detective sergeant Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) leads the investigation. At first, it appears to be an open and shut case of suicide, but Bannion digs a bit deeper and through a series of related circumstances, Bannion has reason to believe that Lagana had some involvement in the suicide. At this point, not only Lagana appears to be his adversary, but a corrupt police department becomes an obstacle for getting to the bottom of the investigation. From this point on, the movie advances to a very volatile conflict between Bannion and Lagana and the police department.
This movie was directed by Fritz Lang and was extremely well made. It's not the typical cops versus bad guys movie for a number of reasons. First, it reveals corruption high up inside a law enforcement agency. Second, it shows a very personal and human side of the Bannion character. Furthermore, Glenn Ford does an outstanding job walking the thin line of being a tough cop avenging the wrongs of some despicable people, yet maintains a high moral standard in the process. Another thing that becomes obvious is that the villains are ruthless and the attacks are relatively brutal for this era. A young Lee Marvin plays one of Lagana's henchmen. Also, one will notice that even though it's a film noir movie, this 1953 film is noticeably different than the films made in the 1940's due to the more prosperous time of the era with different scenes taking place in several nice suburban homes, an upscale penthouse and a swanky lounge. In other words, the mood is very dark but the ascetics of the settings are not. Overall, it's an intense movie with plenty of drama with a nearly flawless plot.
The DVD quality has a sharp picture, but it's clearly un-restored. Some small specs of film wear could be seen continuously through the entire course of the movie, which is disappointing for a film this well made. The sound is excellent. The only bonus features are three vintage Columbia trailers including one for the Big Heat.
Movie: A
DVD Quality: B-
Movie Review: Corruption and Its Cure Leave a Bloody Trail.
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Big Heat" is a good-cop-vs-city-corruption story based on a serial by William P. McGivern that ran in the "Saturday Evening Post". Police Sergeant David Bannion (Glenn Ford) becomes suspicious while investigating the suicide of a police officer when the dead man's girlfriend is murdered shortly after she speaks to him. But Bannion is ordered to lay off the dead cop's sinister widow, Bertha Duncan (Jeanette Nolan), and to leave the murder case to another jurisdiction. He pursues the case anyway, confronting a prominent businessman named Mike Lagana (Alexander Scourby) who built his fortune on crime and to whom all roads of corruption in this town lead. Lagana's violent reprisal further provokes Bannion into an obsessive campaign to bring down the entire corrupt network of criminals, politicians, and complicitous cops.
Glenn Ford and director Fritz Lang give us a complicated picture of David Bannion, a man who is kind and devoted to his family, but whose obsessive pursuit of justice leaves a trail of death and destruction. The crusading cop who risks his life to combat the violence and corruption that permeate his town is, at the same time, generally unconcerned with the human cost of his pique. Bannion's single-mindedness is understandable considering his circumstances, but this good guy with admirable ambitions has the flaws of a self-righteous crusader. And that's a lot more interesting than a man who's all good.
Gloria Grahame gives a memorable performance as Debby Marsh, the girlfriend of one of Lagana's goons. She is the antithesis of the smart, literate Laurel Gray, whom Grahame portrayed in "In a Lonely Place". Debby is an unsophisticated-but-savvy, happy-go-lucky woman who tries to enjoy life in spite of depending on sadistic gangsters for her livelihood. And she suffers for being caught between the conflicting obsessions of two men: her boyfriend Vince and David Bannion. Debby's childlike voice and chin-up demeanor in the midst of moral chaos really make an impression.
The DVD (The Columbia/ Tristar 2001 release): Bonus features are "Vintage Advertising", which is a slideshow of some posters for the film, and Theatrical Trailers for "The Big Heat", "The Lady from Shanghai", and "Suddenly, Last Summer". Subtitles are available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Dubbing is available in French.
Movie Review: Noir "De Luxe"
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is definitely one of the best Film Noirs I've ever seen. This tale of corruption, greed and revenge is packed with action galore and all kinds of plot twists and surprises, until the very end...and I won't spoil anybody's fun by giving away any of it.
Fritz Lang's deft direction is impeccable; the pacing is fast and keeps your attention all the time, and the cast is full of excellent actors.
Glenn Ford is magnificent as the embittered policeman; charged with hatred and revenge in his veins. Gloria Grahame is excellent, as always, as the apparently air-headed gangster's moll, with a "hidden ace in her sleeve". Jocelyn Brando (Marlon's older sister) is very fine as Ford's down-to-earth and strong-tempered wife. Lee Marvin excels in one of his first tough roles as a psychopathic hit man.
Others in this excellent cast are: Jeanette Nolan (who played Lady Mac Beth opposite Orson Welles in the latter's rendition of Shakespeare's Classic), as a hard-as-nails, ambitious, no-holds barred woman; Carolyn Jones in a small role as a gangster's moll (victimized by Lee Marvin); and Edith Evanson, a very active character actress, plays a crippled secretary, who's a pivotal circumstantial witness of some shady-doings that occur during the film's course.
Also, look for Celia Lovsky, a prolific character actress and Peter Lorre's first wife and who (reputedly) was responsible for his casting in the title role of Fritz Lang's 1931 German masterpiece "M", featured as (mobster) Lagana's mother on a painted portrait he has in his study.
There's a nice vignette during the film; when Glenn Ford's character enters "The Retreat Club" and meets Lee Marvin's character face-to-face, "Put the Blame on Mame" ( Gilda's famous song) is playing on the background.
This one's not to be missed!
Movie Review: Excellent film noir crime drama
Summary: 5 Stars
The able direction of Fritz Lang and a well acted plot combined to make "The Big Heat" a taut crime drama.
Tough guy homicide cop Dave Bannion played very smoothly by Glenn Ford gets called in to investigate an apparent suicide by a colleague on the force. Before that however we see the act and the cop, Duncan is discovered by his wife Bertha who cooly and emotionlessly reads an apparent suicide note confession. The confession chronicles Duncan's involvement in the rackets orchestrated by crime boss Mike Lagana played by Alex Scourby.
Duncan's wife calls Lagana using the note to blackmail him.
Ford questions Duncan's girlfriend Lucy Chapman who tells him that he was going to dvorce his wife. She soon turns up dead and Ford begins receiving threatening phone calls at home. Ford confronts Lagana who is protected by his sadistic henchman Vince Stone played with flair by Lee Marvin.
Ford's beloved wife Katie played by a very attractive Jocelyn Brando is tragically killed in a car bomb meant for him. Ford goes ballistic in front of the corrupt police commissioner and gets suspended from the force. He now can pursue his investigation without any encumberances from the police department. With the help of Marvin's girlfriend femme fatale Debbie Marsh played by Gloria Grahame, Ford uncovers the whole sordid affair and exacts revenge on the guilty parties.
Glenn Ford normally cast in milder mannered roles than this really shines as the vengeance minded cop but also shows his sensitive side in his relationships with the ladies Grahame and Brando. Lang accurately captures the high emotional level of this crackling plot.