The Big Combo (1955) |08| PhlixPetty

Grab some popcorn and join me for a deep dive into classic public domain films! Tonight’s feature: The Big Combo (1955). Let’s talk actors, trivia, and all the quirky moments that make old cinema unforgettable!
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The Big Combo (1955) is a visually striking and hard-boiled film noir directed by Joseph H. Lewis, known for his stylish and expressionistic approach to crime dramas. The film is drenched in shadowy cinematography, courtesy of legendary cinematographer John Alton, whose use of deep shadows, sharp contrasts, and dramatic lighting imbues the film with a haunting, almost dreamlike quality, making it one of the most visually arresting noirs of its time.

The story follows police Lieutenant Leonard Diamond (played by Cornel Wilde), a dogged and obsessive lawman determined to take down the enigmatic and ruthless crime boss Mr. Brown (portrayed with chilling suavity by Richard Conte). Unlike many gangsters in film noir, Brown is not a mere brute; he is intelligent, manipulative, and cruel, exerting psychological control over those around him. His hold over his glamorous yet tormented girlfriend, Susan Lowell (Jean Wallace), is particularly unsettling, as she finds herself drawn into his world of power and corruption despite her growing despair.

Diamond, driven as much by his personal fixation on Susan as his pursuit of justice, launches an unrelenting campaign to bring Brown to justice. His investigation leads him into the murky depths of Brown’s operations, where he encounters a host of morally ambiguous characters, including Brown’s sinister henchmen, Fante and Mingo (played by Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman, respectively), whose partnership carries subtle homoerotic undertones, a bold subtext for a film of this era.

The film's tension is heightened by its brutal and unflinching portrayal of violence, including a now-infamous torture scene where Brown uses a hearing aid to amplify sound to excruciating levels, demonstrating his sadistic nature. Thematically, The Big Combo explores power, obsession, and the cost of moral compromise, with characters trapped in a world where good and evil are often indistinguishable.

Ultimately, the film builds toward a suspenseful and poetic climax, set against a fog-enshrouded airfield—a classic noir setting that emphasizes the existential uncertainty faced by its characters. While The Big Combo was not a major hit upon release, it has since been reevaluated as a quintessential example of film noir, celebrated for its stylistic flourishes, morally complex characters, and innovative cinematography.