The Big Knife

Rating:
Summary: Anguished performance by the excellent Mr Palance
Review: Very clearly a filmed version of Clifford Odets' stage play with the action confined almost exclusively to the lounge room of the Bel Air mansion of protaganist Charlie Castles, this is very much an over the top actor's delight with Mr Steiger and Mr Palance letting fly in the best stage histrionics. Fun to watch, with rich language, it sort of works but doesn't really take off and could have done with some judicious editing. More a curio piece than classic, it is nevertheless one to own and to revisit.