Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Lawbolisted Powerful

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

dfiscaletti8 The Big Combo was nothing extraordinary, the run of the mill Film Nior/ Gangster flick with dark lighting (this film actually played with lighting which made it enjoyable and is one of its stronger points), harsh noises, and quick movement. It was no surprise to me that this film lacked depth or interest in the story as it followed a predictable format. There were a few interesting parts throughout the film, but it was the acting that kept my attention. Cornel Wilde and Jean Wallace do not break character once despite their many roles as they try to please the others and deal with the conflicting relationship they share. These two may have been impressive, but it was Richard Conte who rose above and beyond portraying his character with perfection, convincing the audience he was a true mobster. Although I got a little lost throughout the film the thrilling sexual and actions scenes kept me tuned in. The ending especially grabbed my attention with the combination of lighting, film work, and excitement. However I would not particularly recommend this film to anyone unless the film would fulfill some type of requirement or guideline they were searching for.

stillnessbreaker I thought that 'The Big Combo' was just an okay film, I had a hard time staying focused (it really didn't grab or keep my attention), you didn't really grow to like an of the characters, especially the main character Lt. Diamond, which in my opinion was the most important character to like. It was a little hard to follow in the beginning, I couldn't tell if they were doing a flash back or if they were just doing a "meanwhile on the other side of town" kind of intro. I understand that in 'film noir' it's supposed to be really dark and shadowy, but this was really hard to see and focus on sometimes (however, the quality could have just been affected by the network in which I watched it from). I thought the story was a good idea, I just felt that it could have been so much better.

robert-temple-1 This is a strong film noir directed by Joseph Lewis which packs a good punch. An intriguing and beautiful masochistic heroine, girlfriend to a vicious gangster played by Richard Conte, is played by Jean Wallace. At the time she was married to Cornel Wilde, who plays the idealistic cop who is trying to arrest Conte. Wallace really was 'something' on screen, but in private she was unfortunately 'something else'. Her tempestuous private life, drinking, suicide attempts, and apparent general instability meant that she never achieved what she might have done if she had been more stable. The acting is strong in this film, also from Brian Donlevy as an older gangster who has been sidelined, and from a cast of familiar supporting payers such as Earl Holliman, Lee van Cleef, and John Hoyt. Conte plays one of those gangster supremos who doesn't care whom he kills, but his fingerprints are never on anything. Will they, can they, get him? Wilde tries and tries and tries, and it is a most frustrating business trying to pin something on such an elusive crime boss as Conte. Conte's controlled, sneering, sinister menace is most effective. It is really he and Wallace who make the 'screen combo', though the combo of the title refers to a crime syndicate.

vladimir jaksic The Big Combo is definitely in my opinion one of the best film-noirs ever. Sometimes I wonder how that some movies (Hitchcock's Notorious for example) are better rated on film-noir top lists than this one, because "Combo" deserves to bee at least in top 10. At first story looks cheesy and well known, but later it gets more and more interesting and really drags you into this movie. Although this movie had small budget it looks better and more elegant than some A-list motion pictures from that period of Hollywood cinema. The photography is simply fantastic. Director of photography John Alton did a really great job. "The dance" of light and shadows is simply amazing. One more thing that's not in common with The Big Combo and other noirs is that The Big Combo contains slightly more violence and "black" humor. Example of that is scene where Mr. Brown with Fante and Mingo kills Joe McClure. At the end I would recommend this classic to everyone who simply want to see a great drama or to those who are into film-noir.