Blu-ray Review: THE BIG HEAT (Twilight Time)
"Somebody's Going to Pay"
Never has a film's entire thematic thrust been so succinctly distilled in a tagline. Fritz Lang's 1953 film noir classic, The Big Heat, is an amazing example of the genre and what Lang was capable of in his best years. I've reviewed other Lang films from this era, and while they're all good, none holds a candle to The Big Heat. While fellow European ex-pat Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity may still be my favorite noir, The Big Heat certainly makes a case for itself, and Twilight Time's Blu-ray release is every bit as good as the film it presents.
Glenn Ford is police sergeant Dave Bannion, a good cop investigating the death of a fellow police officer. When things don't add up and Bannion tries to get at the truth, he bucks his superiors and goes digging in places he's not supposed to be. When the local crime boss's second in command, a young Lee Marvin as Vince Stone, is ordered to take out Bannion before he gets too close, Bannion's wife ends up in an exploding car, sending the cop into a frenzy of vengeance. Bannion surrenders his badge and gun and goes vigilante, hunting down the men who killed his wife. He's joined by dissatisfied mob moll Debby Marsh, played by Gloria Grahame, who helps him find what he's looking for, though it may already be too late.
If you've ever wondered where the origin of those super bloody Korean new wave thrillers and revenge fillers can be found, The Big Heat is a solid place to start looking. Many of the conventions used in those films are pure film noir. Sure, the revenge wasn't quite as visceral, but the emotions ran just as high and the dialogue was certainly snappier. This film is a prime example of what can go right with a film noir, as opposed to so many that lose focus. Filmmakers like Fritz Lang and Jules Dassin knew exactly how to keep the tension ratcheted up to a level that will keep their audience at attention, and those two are absolute geniuses at this genre that is both incredibly influential on world cinema to the present day and also completely of its time and damned near impossible to recreate effectively, with the exception of Rian Johnson's Brick.
As with most film noir, The Big Heat focuses most of its attention on a very few crucial characters, in this case Bannion, Marsh, and Stone, and all of those characters have to be up to snuff or the film falls flat. Thankfully, Lang had something of a dream cast to work with and the three leads are absolutely incredible. Glenn Ford's righteous anger dominates the screen, instilling both admiration and fear in anyone who crosses him. Ford's imposing physical presence does him some good in the role, as it is tough to imagine anyone intimidating Lee Marvin. Marvin, for his part, is a fantastic heel. This was one of his first roles, but he gives the playboy villain, Vince Stone, equal amounts of charisma and crazy to keep teh audience on the edge of their seats wondering which of those traits will win out at any given moment. Grahame is the archetypal ditzy dame, a girl who plays dumb but has more street smarts than she knows what to do with. She risks her life for the sake of someone she hardly knows, and it all the better for it.
The Big Heat is an incredible film and one that every film fan should see. There is so much history on the screen here, and so much to be learned by filmmakers today who aim to overintellectualize and muddle their focus. This is how you do it, ladies and gentlemen, take notes.
The Disc:
Twilight Time comes up with another winner in The Big Heat. While the black and white image is not as pristine as their earlier release of Rapture, this film is also fifteen years older, so accommodations must be made. That being said, I found nothing to complain about with the image quality of this disc. I've seen better, sure, Arrow Academy's Blu-ray of Rififi comes to mind, but not many, and the fact that anyone is up for releasing films like this on Blu-ray at all is a thing to admire. The audio track is solid, but unremarkable, as is often the case with older films. One can't go in looking for aural fireworks, but the audio track does a good job of making the dialogue distinct. The optional score-only audio track is superb as usual.
The only extra in this package is yet another fine essay from Twilight Time's go-to gal, Julie Kirgo. Kirgo explores the testosterone overloaded sexual politics of the film as well as Lang's history and place in American cinema history with equal gusto. Her take on the film from a feminine, but not necessarily feminist, perspective is a welcome one, and gives the reader something to think about. A welcome addition to all of Twilight Time's releases, Julie Kirgo has done it again.
If you live film, if you love film, you need this film. The Big Heat is one to see before you die, so I'd get on it if I were you.
Never has a film's entire thematic thrust been so succinctly distilled in a tagline. Fritz Lang's 1953 film noir classic, The Big Heat, is an amazing example of the genre and what Lang was capable of in his best years. I've reviewed other Lang films from this era, and while they're all good, none holds a candle to The Big Heat. While fellow European ex-pat Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity may still be my favorite noir, The Big Heat certainly makes a case for itself, and Twilight Time's Blu-ray release is every bit as good as the film it presents.
Glenn Ford is police sergeant Dave Bannion, a good cop investigating the death of a fellow police officer. When things don't add up and Bannion tries to get at the truth, he bucks his superiors and goes digging in places he's not supposed to be. When the local crime boss's second in command, a young Lee Marvin as Vince Stone, is ordered to take out Bannion before he gets too close, Bannion's wife ends up in an exploding car, sending the cop into a frenzy of vengeance. Bannion surrenders his badge and gun and goes vigilante, hunting down the men who killed his wife. He's joined by dissatisfied mob moll Debby Marsh, played by Gloria Grahame, who helps him find what he's looking for, though it may already be too late.
If you've ever wondered where the origin of those super bloody Korean new wave thrillers and revenge fillers can be found, The Big Heat is a solid place to start looking. Many of the conventions used in those films are pure film noir. Sure, the revenge wasn't quite as visceral, but the emotions ran just as high and the dialogue was certainly snappier. This film is a prime example of what can go right with a film noir, as opposed to so many that lose focus. Filmmakers like Fritz Lang and Jules Dassin knew exactly how to keep the tension ratcheted up to a level that will keep their audience at attention, and those two are absolute geniuses at this genre that is both incredibly influential on world cinema to the present day and also completely of its time and damned near impossible to recreate effectively, with the exception of Rian Johnson's Brick.
As with most film noir, The Big Heat focuses most of its attention on a very few crucial characters, in this case Bannion, Marsh, and Stone, and all of those characters have to be up to snuff or the film falls flat. Thankfully, Lang had something of a dream cast to work with and the three leads are absolutely incredible. Glenn Ford's righteous anger dominates the screen, instilling both admiration and fear in anyone who crosses him. Ford's imposing physical presence does him some good in the role, as it is tough to imagine anyone intimidating Lee Marvin. Marvin, for his part, is a fantastic heel. This was one of his first roles, but he gives the playboy villain, Vince Stone, equal amounts of charisma and crazy to keep teh audience on the edge of their seats wondering which of those traits will win out at any given moment. Grahame is the archetypal ditzy dame, a girl who plays dumb but has more street smarts than she knows what to do with. She risks her life for the sake of someone she hardly knows, and it all the better for it.
The Big Heat is an incredible film and one that every film fan should see. There is so much history on the screen here, and so much to be learned by filmmakers today who aim to overintellectualize and muddle their focus. This is how you do it, ladies and gentlemen, take notes.
The Disc:
Twilight Time comes up with another winner in The Big Heat. While the black and white image is not as pristine as their earlier release of Rapture, this film is also fifteen years older, so accommodations must be made. That being said, I found nothing to complain about with the image quality of this disc. I've seen better, sure, Arrow Academy's Blu-ray of Rififi comes to mind, but not many, and the fact that anyone is up for releasing films like this on Blu-ray at all is a thing to admire. The audio track is solid, but unremarkable, as is often the case with older films. One can't go in looking for aural fireworks, but the audio track does a good job of making the dialogue distinct. The optional score-only audio track is superb as usual.
The only extra in this package is yet another fine essay from Twilight Time's go-to gal, Julie Kirgo. Kirgo explores the testosterone overloaded sexual politics of the film as well as Lang's history and place in American cinema history with equal gusto. Her take on the film from a feminine, but not necessarily feminist, perspective is a welcome one, and gives the reader something to think about. A welcome addition to all of Twilight Time's releases, Julie Kirgo has done it again.
If you live film, if you love film, you need this film. The Big Heat is one to see before you die, so I'd get on it if I were you.
Special Features:
- Isolated score track
- Theatrical trailer
- Liner notes by Julie Kirgo
- Isolated score track
- Theatrical trailer
- Liner notes by Julie Kirgo
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