The Big Heat (1953) – Detective Dave Bannion doesn’t believe that officer Tom Duncan killed himself. The deeper he digs, the worse the case gets. Corruption in the police department, witnesses murdered, and his own wife killed. But the harder the gangsters and their stooges lean on him, the harder he searches for the truth.
Directed by Fritz Lang
Starring – Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Alexander Scourby, Lee Marvin, Jeannette Nolan
Why I Liked It – A great cast turn in an iconic noir performance.
Where to begin with this one? Let’s start with the cast. Unless you’re a movie fan of the ‘50s and ‘60s most of these names mean nothing to you, I’d bet. The best known pair are Lee Marvin, who built a legendary career, and Gloria Grahame. Her name may not ring an immediate bell, but she played Violet, the flirty blonde in “It’s A Wonderful Life”. That the rest aren’t well remembered is too bad. Glenn Ford was a star in his day. His role here was a break from his usual character. Ford gained fame for his upright, “good-guy” roles. Here, he plays a “good-guy” with a hard center and a gritty edge. Ford carries it off nicely. The rest of the cast includes top shelf character actors, as well as a few surprises. Jocelyn Brando plays the wife of the apparent suicide. She’s also the older sister of Marlon Brando. I thought she was very good here. Further down the cast list, you find two actors that will connect with the 1960s television generation. Carolyn Jones, better known to viewers as Morticia Adams from “The Addams Family”, and Dan Seymour, who played the villainous Maharajah on “Batman”. They both have minor roles. Oh, and watch for the scene in the gangster’s home office. They look at a portrait of the character’s grandmother. It’s actually Celia Lovsky, the actress best known to this same generation as T’Pau from the “Amok Time” episode of “Star Trek”!
Directing all this talent is the legendary Fritz Lang. Some fans associate Lang with the idea that all his movies look like “Metropolis” or “M”, but as mentioned here before, his Hollywood work showcases the range of his ability. He keeps the tempo up, gives the actors room to play, but the tension level is high. Even 60+ years later, the movie holds up nicely.
All the elements of noir, that ill-defined but “I know it when I see it” genre, are here. The cynicism, the corruption, the sexual tension linked to deception, and casual death. It’s a gem waiting to be discovered by new generations of movie fans.
For its day, this movie was violent and gritty. While it’s mild by today’s standards, there are a few moments that some may find disturbing.
You can watch “The Big Heat” on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, and Fandango.
Rating – **** Recommended
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