Trailer

The Big Heat (1953)

Not Rated   |    |  Crime, Film-Noir, Thriller

The Big Heat (1953) Poster

Tough cop Dave Bannion takes on a politically powerful crime syndicate.

8/10
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  • Gloria Grahame in The Big Heat (1953)
  • Glenn Ford in The Big Heat (1953)
  • Edith Evanson in The Big Heat (1953)
  • Alexander Scourby in The Big Heat (1953)
  • Gloria Grahame in The Big Heat (1953)
  • Lee Marvin in The Big Heat (1953)

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Awards

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
24 March 2005 | RanchoTuVu
8
| nice attention to detail
A violent story about a detective working in a corrupt department who investigates the apparent suicide of a fellow officer. Worth seeing for Glenn Ford's prototypical performance and Gloria Grahme's show stealing portrayal of a boozing moll with a conscience. With facial disfigurement and cigarette burns it took violence up a notch from the standard gun play of the past, making it grimmer and more realistic, and giving the story more punch. Grahme's tough and tender role stands out and gives the film a tragic element, while certain of its portrayals of greed and corruption (namely the dead officer's wife) stand out for their attention to detail. In the end, it IS the details that give this formulaic story its clout, and we can thank director Fritz Lang for that.

Critic Reviews

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor Rex Reason was originally cast in this movie to portray Tierney or Detective Burke, but his agent was negotiating for him to play a bigger role in it, possibly that of Lee Marvin's villain, but since there was no agreement reached, Reason did not appear in the movie, even though some 1950s era books and magazines sources give him credit for this movie.

Quotes

Lt. Ted Wilks: It was bad judgment to bother a cop's widow about the love life of her husband.
Dave Bannion: Good or bad, it was my judgment.
Lt. Ted Wilks: You're missing the point. I'm the one that gets the pressure calls from upstairs. I'm the one that has to explain. You don't keep an ...
Dave Bannion: ...

Goofs

The newspaper article concerning Duncan's suicide states that Duncan kept the issue of his illness from his wife, Bertha. When Dave later questions Bertha, she instead says that she can confirm that her husband was ill, which was the cause of the suicide.

Soundtracks

Put the Blame on Mame
(uncredited)
Written by Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts
Heard instrumentally during one of the scenes at The Retreat

Storyline

Plot Summary

Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)

Genres

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

Details

Release Date:

6 December 1953

Language

English

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,324

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