The Big Combo (1955)
Genre: Filmnoir
Duration: 89 minuten
Alternative title: Ik Was de Vriendin van een Gangster
Country:
United States
Directed by: Joseph H. Lewis
Stars: Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte and Lee Van Cleef
IMDb score:
7,3 (9.914)
Releasedate: 13 February 1955
The Big Combo plot
"The Most Startling Story The Screen Has Ever Dared Reveal!"
Gangster Boss 'Mr. Brown' is being chased by Inspector Leonard Diamond. When Brown suspects that his girlfriend Susan Lowell is planning to break up with him, he has her guarded by his criminal accomplices Fante and Mingo. Meanwhile, Diamond goes in search of Brown's mysterious lover "Alicia".
Actors and actresses
Leonard Diamond
Susan Lowell
Joe McClure
Mr. Brown
Fante
Mingo
Police Capt. Peterson
Alicia Brown
Detective Sam Hill
Nils Dreyer
Reviews & comments
Dogie Hogan
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- 13381 messages
- 788 votes
Not such a strong story, but that is most certainly made up for by the beautiful visuals. Lots of Noir: many night shots, many shadow effects, lots of fog, etc. In short, beautiful shots and camerawork... "shades of grey"!
A still of that beautiful showdown is also on many Film Noir sites.
While I found Cornel Wilde somewhat lackluster in LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN 10 years earlier, he has learned quite a bit in the intervening period. Wilde delivered a fine cop this time.
Richard Conte was also excellent as a gangster boss. 
It is also funny to see a young, not yet moustached Lee van Cleef in one of his first roles.
I found Brian Donlevy a bit disappointing, but perhaps that is due to his minimal contribution this time. Cornel Wilde's then-blonde wife Jean Wallace also makes a fine contribution as a femme fatale. The cameraman had noticed that too...
The DVD transfer could have been a bit better, and the subtitles should have been included as well; additionally, I prefer a keepcase over a slimcase, but despite this, I enjoyed the film: 4* (IMDB 8*)
Translated from Dutch · View original
The One Ring
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- 29974 messages
- 4109 votes
They almost never get as noir as The Big Combo. It might lack a bit of a femme fatale (Jean Wallace is benevolent), but not only is this a visual model for the genre, it is also as brutal as it could get in that era, with some elements you could probably only get away with if you were making a B-movie.
The most striking elements have actually been mentioned here, including the stunning lighting, the intense torture scene, and the nearly open homosexual relationship between the mafia boss's two henchmen. Richard Conte deserves special mention as the gangster boss. The story itself is not the best the genre has to offer, but that is more than compensated for by the atmosphere, the violence, and a few memorable scenes. It is probably impossible that this won't work for a film noir enthusiast.
4*
Translated from Dutch · View original
starbright boy (moderator films)
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- 22536 messages
- 5187 votes
It has been mentioned before, but at heart, this is essentially a simple, run-of-the-mill crime story. But this is truly a textbook example of how to execute that. Like the best noirs, it turns pulp into art. This was really enjoyable. It is just a little bit dirtier and nastier than many of its genre counterparts. There is significantly more guts; even for a low-budget B-movie, it goes quite far for that time. There is torture, there are references to sex. There is a gay couple.. And where I saw traces of a stylish director in Gun Crazy, here the floodgates really open. There are noirs that are more stylish. Superior lighting. The play with shadows. Notably, the finale is entirely based on lighting. The film is rich in detail and has fine aspects that I like to see in this type of movie, such as a rather unsympathetic good guy. I barely know many of the actors, but the film gets the maximum out of everyone. Conte really steals the show here. Anyone who likes noir even a little bit needs to see this. This is a masterpiece.
I think this is his best, but I still want to see Lewis's other noirs as well. Gun Crazy might be more famous, but this one is better. And maybe I should pay attention to cinematographer John Alton sometime too.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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