Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful film noir
Review: A great Fritz Lang movie exploring the depths of big time corruption. Glenn Ford does a wonderful job, depicting a police officer who will stop at nothing to bring down mob boss Lagana and his henchmen. The scene when Gloria Grahame is burned by coffee thrown at her face is an all-time great. Glenn Ford should have been nominated for an Oscar, and I will go as far as saying he should have won one as well.
Rating:
Summary: good strong stuff
Review: a real bruiser of a movie. excellent 1950s cops movie with plenty of good performances; especially by Gloria Graham as the doomed Debbie and Lee Marvin as the sadist. pacing of this movie is incredible. good just barely overcomes evil in this movie. highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Glenn Ford at his BEST!
Review: Although Glenn Ford is best known for his westerns, he shines in this dramatic film noir directed by Fritz Lang. What impressed me about this film is the strong performance by film veteran, Glenn Ford as the cop and Glenn Ford as the father and husband -- purely touching. What a great actor he was and unfortunately underrated. One of Fritz Lang's best. P.S. Amazon should make this great film affordable so fans can enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: CLASSIC 50's NOIR.....
Review: Awesome 50's detective film noir with Glenn Ford out to bust up a gang that's getting away with murder. He starts snooping around and finds a cover up bigger than he expected. When his wife gets blown up in their car by a bomb meant for him, he's told to take a "leave". So he sets out on his own to get the guys responsible. He hangs out at a club known to be frequented by the thugs and witnesses a party girl (Carolyn Jones) being victimized by hissably slimy Lee Marvin--- who's a key member of the gang. He intervenes and meets another party girl Debby (50's noir babe Gloria Grahame)who tells him to back off for his own good. Ford continues to snoop around and discovers things are even more involved than he thought. Debby proves to be helpful (she likes him) but Marvin scalds her face with boiling coffee when he finds out---a shocking highlight of the film. She goes to Ford, tells all and then takes matters into her own hands. She will be avenged. Tense, exciting story and top notch acting make this a bona-fide classic of the genre and not to be missed. They don't get much better than this. Ford is excellent and Grahame gives the kind of performance that defines a career. She's unforgettable as Debby. A must for DVD collectors who like their film noir pitch black and brutal.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Different Noir, Brutal and Uncompromising!
Review: Basically a tough and compelling police melodrama. Lang adds tension and some scenes have become little gems, but he doesn't capture the atmosphere and essence of 'Noir'. The plot about corruption and greed is very tame by today's standards and time has taken away much of the impact. This will always be remembered as the film where Lee Marvin threw boiling coffee on Gloria Graheme's face. Glenn Ford gives his best performance as the tough-as-nails Bannion. Lee Marvin is also superb as the sadistic Vince. But Gloria Graheme is the one who gives the most memorable performance as Vince's moll who gets horribly disfigured and ultimately saves the day but with tragic conclusions. The final shoot-out sequence is memorable and Graheme's last speech is touching. Works better as a police drama than a definitive 'noir'. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 7!
Rating:
Summary: Glenn Ford Commands Attention
Review: Brilliantly directed by Fritz Lang, The Big Heat stands as one of the most symbolic crime/noir films in American cinema. Working from a powerful script by Sydney Boehm, Lang merges the vengeful hostilities of an incorruptable cop with the powerful forces that control big city politics. Twenty years before Serpico, detective Dave Bannion ( Glenn Ford) lashes out against the covert marriage of organized crime and the police force. The Big Heat broke barriers that were previously unexplored in crime films. Alex Scourby as Mike Lagana gives an accurate portrayal of how Mafia bosses strived to legitimize their illegal deals as part of doing business in America. Lagana represented the Italian immigrant whose successes are not only measured by his palatial mansion, but also by the social standing and acceptance that he has solidified for his family. Bannion angered by Lagana's web of influence, stages a lone vendetta that intensifies when his wife (Jocelyn Brando) is killed by a car bomb planted by one of Lagana's hoods. Boehm's script raised the bar for actors such as Lee Marvin ( Vince Stone) to break the conventionality of crimminal behavior. Stone's vicious demeanor is waxed with a slick and suave manner. Marvin does not have to "act" like a tough guy a la James Cagney. Vince Stone's screen presence alone, redefined gangster behavior. Not until Joe Peschi arrived on the scene (Once Upon A Time In America, Goodfellas, Casino) did the role of the gangster take on another dimension. Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, and George Raft characterizations seem amateurish compared to the rawness and unpretentiousness evident in Lee Marvin's performance. Perky Gloria Grahame also shines as Vince's girfriend Debbie, who pokes fun at his subservience to the omnipotent Lagana. Frits Lang ushered in a new dimension for the crime drama. By 1953 most Americans could no longer deny the existance or influence of organized crime upon society. The days of the "Little Ceasars" and the bootleggers were over; replaced with a more complex and dangerous syndicate. The Big Heat exemplified this when the sanctity of a middle class family like the Bannion's is violently destroyed. The Big Heat pushed the envelope on crime violence and exposed the vunerability of American society to a complex form of evil.
Rating:
Summary: If you like detective mysteries ,you'll love "The Big Heat"
Review: Columbia Pictures under the Direction of Fritz Lang produced a great Good Cop with a Hero Image Against the Rotten Corrupt World of a 1953 City. Thats Hollywood stile film making.Glenn Ford portrays the only honest hardnose City Police Detective who sacrifices everything to maintain his morale integrity. He investigates what seems to be a routine policemans suicide but uncovers a complex corruption ring which includes, gangsters, politicians and his own police precinct. Quickly finds himself on the outside with everyone trying to squash his investigation, life threatened he begins to battle the odds alone. This 1953 Black & White Standard Format (Full Screen) is beautifully digitally transferred. The picture & sound quality is awesome. A great story, an outstanding cast with Glenn Ford as the hero Detective, Lee Marvin as a Gangster Stooge and a delightful Gloria Grahame as his girlfriend. This is a must see movie for Sam Spade & Phillip Marlowe admirers. Special features include only an original theatrical trailer. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: If you like detective mysteries ,you'll love "The Big Heat"
Review: Columbia Pictures under the Direction of Fritz Lang produced a great Good Cop with a Hero Image Against the Rotten Corrupt World of a 1953 City. Thats Hollywood stile film making. Glenn Ford portrays the only honest hardnose City Police Detective who sacrifices everything to maintain his morale integrity. He investigates what seems to be a routine policemans suicide but uncovers a complex corruption ring which includes, gangsters, politicians and his own police precinct. Quickly finds himself on the outside with everyone trying to squash his investigation, life threatened he begins to battle the odds alone. This 1953 Black & White Standard Format (Full Screen) is beautifully digitally transferred. The picture & sound quality is awesome. A great story, an outstanding cast with Glenn Ford as the hero Detective, Lee Marvin as a Gangster Stooge and a delightful Gloria Grahame as his girlfriend. This is a must see movie for Sam Spade & Phillip Marlowe admirers. Special features include only an original theatrical trailer. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Everbody's rotten in this lousy town
Review: Everybody's rotten in this lousy town - except Glenn Ford. The pleasure of this film relies as much on the fabulous cast of bit characters as it does on the bad guys getting their comeuppance, especially Lee Marvin getting a faceful of scalding coffee - cop that you pig! These bit characters include the fat man in the car yard, the blonde sidekick to Lee Marvin always combing his hair, the barman in the night club and many others. I don't think Glenn Ford has stood up over time as well as these other characters but he's pretty darn good. Gloria Grahame is a delight. A must see for lovers of the detective story and the FIGHT AGAINST A CORRUPT WORLD.
Rating:
Summary: Big Drama Big Heat
Review: Ford plays an "honest" cop in this thriller directed by Fritz Lang. Alexander Scourby plays the big Lagana.. This film includes another fine performance by that mystical Gloria Grahame..She is the ringer and plays her part superbly..I think Annette Benning is a modern day actress with these qualities..? Lee Marvin plays the sadistic Vince..and has reprised such characters in later films. Ford, like Dana Andrews , acts with his face also..making it all very real.. CP
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