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The Big Steal

  • 19491949
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 11m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Big Steal (1949)
An army lieutenant accused of robbery pursues the real thief on a frantic chase through Mexico aided by the thief's fiancee.
Play trailer2:03
1 Video
29 Photos
  • Crime
  • Film-Noir
  • Romance
An army lieutenant accused of robbery pursues the real thief on a frantic chase through Mexico aided by the thief's fiancee.An army lieutenant accused of robbery pursues the real thief on a frantic chase through Mexico aided by the thief's fiancee.An army lieutenant accused of robbery pursues the real thief on a frantic chase through Mexico aided by the thief's fiancee.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Don Siegel
  • Writers
    • Daniel Mainwaring(screenplay)
    • Gerald Drayson Adams(screenplay)
    • Richard Wormser(story "The Road to Carmichael's")
  • Stars
    • Robert Mitchum
    • Jane Greer
    • William Bendix
Top credits
  • Director
    • Don Siegel
  • Writers
    • Daniel Mainwaring(screenplay)
    • Gerald Drayson Adams(screenplay)
    • Richard Wormser(story "The Road to Carmichael's")
  • Stars
    • Robert Mitchum
    • Jane Greer
    • William Bendix
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 66User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    Official Trailer

    Photos29

    Robert Mitchum in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum, William Bendix, and Jane Greer in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum and William Bendix in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Patric Knowles, and John Qualen in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum, Ramon Novarro, Jane Greer, and Patric Knowles in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer in The Big Steal (1949)
    Robert Mitchum and William Bendix in The Big Steal (1949)
    Ramon Novarro in The Big Steal (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Mitchum
    Robert Mitchum
    • Lt. Duke Hallidayas Lt. Duke Halliday
    Jane Greer
    Jane Greer
    • Joan Grahamas Joan Graham
    William Bendix
    William Bendix
    • Capt. Vincent Blakeas Capt. Vincent Blake
    Patric Knowles
    Patric Knowles
    • Jim Fiskeas Jim Fiske
    Ramon Novarro
    Ramon Novarro
    • Inspector General Ortegaas Inspector General Ortega
    Don Alvarado
    Don Alvarado
    • Lt. Ruizas Lt. Ruiz
    John Qualen
    John Qualen
    • Julius Setonas Julius Seton
    Pascual García Peña
    Pascual García Peña
    • Manuelas Manuel
    • (as Pascual Garcia Pena)
    Gregorio Acosta
    • Chaneyas Chaney
    • (uncredited)
    Salvador Baguez
    • Moralesas Morales
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Carr
    • Bellhopas Bellhop
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Colebrook
    • Mexican Touristas Mexican Tourist
    • (uncredited)
    Bing Conley
    • Dockhandas Dockhand
    • (uncredited)
    Don Dillaway
    Don Dillaway
    • Purseras Purser
    • (uncredited)
    Alphonso DuBois
    Alphonso DuBois
    • Police Sergeantas Police Sergeant
    • (uncredited)
    Juan Duval
    • Vendoras Vendor
    • (uncredited)
    Virginia Farmer
    Virginia Farmer
    • American Touristas American Tourist
    • (uncredited)
    Nacho Galindo
    Nacho Galindo
    • Pastry Vendoras Pastry Vendor
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Don Siegel
    • Writers
      • Daniel Mainwaring(screenplay)
      • Gerald Drayson Adams(screenplay)
      • Richard Wormser(story "The Road to Carmichael's")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jane Greer was pregnant during the shoot, but didn't want anyone to know. Seeing her use her pills against morning sickness, co-star William Bendix asked what they were for. After she told him they were for combating "Montezuma's Revenge", he asked her for some. Later, he thanked her because he didn't get sick.
    • Goofs
      When Duke Halliday falls off the side of Jim Fiske's car, he lands on his left arm and is seen rubbing it. In the next scene, while speaking to Inspector General Ortega, Halliday is rubbing his right arm.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Duke Halliday: [running out of bullets] It'll be getting dark soon. I hate the thought of spending the night with an empty revolver.

      Joan Graham: There's always me.

      Lt. Duke Halliday: Tonight you gotta pick?

    • Alternate versions
      Also shown in a computer-colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story: Dark Victory (1987)

    User reviews66

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    The Big Steal Will Steal You Away
    There's really not much to this film, basically just a car chase and a double cross concerning money. But Don Siegel delivers the action with humor and élan. Jane Greer was not the first choice to play Robert Mitchum's buddy. Several others were not permitted by their studios to work with Mitchum because of his recent pot bust. "The Big Steal" would have died on the vine had Greer not gladly stepped in. The spark between the two is essential and what repartee. The clever dialog causes the film to glide along like a soft summer breeze south of the border.

    Mitchum and Greer get the needed support from the rest of the cast. William Bendix was a versatile and talented actor. He could play comedy as well as the best comedians of the day. In "Who Done It?" Bendix out clowned Lou Costello--no easy task. He was so funny that Lou refused to work with him again because he was stealing the show. He could also play the dumb but tough thug as he did so well in "Dark Corner." He could play straight drama as in "Lifeboat," "The Hairy Ape," and "The Time of Your Life." He could play a psycho as in "The Blue Dahlia" as well as Tony Perkins. Why, he even played Babe Ruth and made people believe it. He made "The Life of Riley" come to life on early TV. He plays Capt. Vincent Blake in "The Big Steal," who is chasing Duke Halliday (Mitchum) who is chasing Jim Fiske (Patric Knowles) who is trying to keep a rendezvous with Hulius Seton (John Qualen), the fence for the stolen money. One of the funniest scenes in the movie involve William Bendix and a mob (not a herd) of sheep. Watch for it. Silent movie star Ramon Novarro plays Col. Ortega, who is content to sit back and let the bad guys eliminate each other. He is also trying to learn English from Lt. Ruiz but has a few problems with American slang. Also look for Mitchum's wife, Dorothy, as one of the tourists.

    It's easy to see shades of Dirty Harry in the action sequences, a sign of good things to come. Because of Don Siegel's direction and a well-written script, "The Big Steal" will steal you away.
    helpful•31
    2
    • krorie
    • Oct 6, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 29, 1949 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Die rote Schlinge
    • Filming locations
      • Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $780,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 11 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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