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| Genre: | Thriller |
| Year: | 1953 |
| Rating: | NR |
| Length: | 1 Hour 29 Minutes |
| Cast: | Fritz Lang, Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Jocelyn Brando |
The pinnacle of German director Fritz Lang's long-underrated American work, The Big Heat is as intense and bleak a film as has ever come out of the Hollywood system. The brutal tale begins with a police officer's apparent suicide. Sergeant Bannion (Glenn Ford) is assigned to investigate, and the depth of corruption he uncovers is staggering. Mob bosses socialize with cops and high-ranking politicians; everyone, it seems, is on the take. Incorruptible, Bannion pushes on, but when he gets too close to the answer, his family must pay the ultimate price. Lang's control over his drama is impeccable, and the film moves toward its grim climax with a relentless, clockwork efficiency. The Big Heat also features a superb supporting cast. Lee Marvin shines in his chilling portrayal of a malevolent psychopath who, at one point, splashes a pot of scalding coffee over his girlfriend's face. And the luminous Gloria Grahame brings a touching vulnerability to her role as a reformed gangster's moll. Donald Gray
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