happytrigger-64-390517 After the revolutionary "Gun Crazy", "The Big Combo" is the second and last real masterpiece directed by Joseph H. Lewis. A strong revenge love story, with violent and shocking scenes shadowed ingeniously by John Alton, definitely master of film noir photography. Richard Conte is outstanding as a sadistic gangster. And try to see the interview of Joseph H. Lewis explaining the very special scene between Richard Conte and Jean Wallace. Cheers Joseph H. Lewis.

JohnHowardReid We expect much from director Joseph H. Lewis, writer Philip Yordan and photographer John Alton, and this trio of talented movie-makers certainly doesn't disappoint their fans with their moody, highly atmospheric The Big Combo. The actors are first-class too. For once in a film noir, the women have major and important roles as well as the men. Jean Wallace is especially effective as the frightened heroine who disguises her fear by adopting a semblance of bravado, while Helen Walker plays most effectively as the long awaited Alicia. Cornel Wilde has one of his best roles as the persuasive hero, while Richard Conte does the incredibly evil bad guy proud. Even the smaller roles are brilliantly characterized and played. You really have to see the movie twice to fully appreciate all the startling effects and characterizations it has to offer. Available on a really excellent Geneon DVD which has no censor cuts – unlike the movie I saw in the cinema way back on February 28, 1957, when it ran two weeks at the local Palace.

GManfred Do you like Noir? "The Big Combo" is one of the best. Can't find anything negative about this picture. The cast was great, even though it wasn't top stars, background music, pacing, and especially the Alton photography - all came together to produce one of the best.It stars Cornel Wilde, not a big name in Hollywood features, but here he gives perhaps his best performance as an obsessive detective trying to rein in a 'bad guy', played by John Conte, who is perfect in his part. Conte is evil personified as the crime boss, cocky and arrogant, and keeps Jean Wallace, a tragic actress who died too soon, as his mistress. She is gorgeous, a Grace Kelly look-alike.It's all been said by other reviewers, but if you are a fan of this genre, see it. It is one of the best - behind, of course, "Out Of The Past".

Dalbert Pringle Favourite movie quote - "You're a beautiful girl, Rita... But stupid."This bare-knuckles, yet decidedly run-of-the-mill, 1955, crime-drama earned itself some extra points from me for these following 3 things -(1) The opening scene where character Susan Lowell (in high heels, no less) is frantically running for her very life away from 2 toughs down a smoky, shadow-drenched corridor.(2) The priceless scene where hottie, burlesque queen, Rita, angrily slaps one of Brown's nelly henchmen across the face with her rhinestone-encrusted handbag.(3) And, last, but not least - Cinematographer, John Alton's first-rate camera-work, which, at times, was about the only thing that actually held my interest in this, otherwise, unintentionally laughable tale about (stud-muffin) Detective Diamond's almost neurotically obsessive crusade to bring down sadistic, self-satisfied gangster, Mr. Brown, to his knees.*Note* - The Big Combo was directed by Joseph Lewis, who, in 1950, had directed Gun Crazy.