DVD Review: Big Combo, The (A-)

The Big Combo (1955)
Directed by Joseph H. Lewis
Starring Cornell Wilde, Richard Conte, Jean Wallace, Earl Holliman
MPAA: NR
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

This obscure film noir from the fifties is an absolute gem. The story line here is simple: detective Leonard Diamond decides to take down the local crime boss Mr. Brown (played brilliantly by Richard Conte). He also has designs on stealing the mob boss' girl while he's at it. The police captain is distressed that Diamond spends so much effort tailing Brown (and the girl) so he tries to bring an end to the case. As things spiral violently out of control, the police captain is forced to give Diamond the go ahead to bring Brown down.

The Big Combo has everything a great film noir needs: tough talking cops in suits, wiseguy criminals that resort to violence at the drop of a hat, mob gals that are too smart for their own good, strippers with hearts of gold, and most of all - lots and lots of guns. The world is murky, sexy, mysterious and dangerous. Every scene is superbly composed with dark shadows and bold slashes of light bordering on german expressionism in style. The excellent soundtrack is a mix of sometimes sleazy, sometimes frenetic jazz music that complements the film perfectly.

The script is punchy, with tons of great dialogue quips. Mr. Brown repeatedly sums up his view on life by barking out "First is first and second is nothing!". Brown takes on everything and everyone, and he always gets what he wants. This drives Leonard Diamond crazy, as he works long hours on a case that never seems to end. He lives to find a way to steal Brown's gal, and send the mobster to jail.

Here's a great exchange where Detective Diamond tries to pry Brown's girl away from him by taking her under arrest:

Leonard Diamond: She's under arrest, Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown: What's the charge?
Leonard Diamond: Homicide.
Mr. Brown: That's ridiculous, she wouldn't kill a fly.
Leonard Diamond: She tried to kill herself.
Mr. Brown: Is that a crime?
Leonard Diamond: It happens to be against two laws: God's and Man's. I'm booking her under the second.

Okay, so the dialogue is a bit cliche and almost camp, but you get a good idea of how people talk here. Sharp. Fast. Tough. The writer of the Big Combo (Phillip Yordan) knew where the line was on the camp factor, and he pushed it as far as it could go without crossing it.

For its gritty dialogue, classic film noir cinematography and great acting, the Big Combo deserves an A. So why the A-? Well, Cornell Wilde is fine as Detective Diamond, but I can't help but wonder how much better Humphrey Bogart or Robert Mitchum would have been in this pumped up gangster film. Someone who took that character over the top and made him the brightest star on the screen (in this case Richard Conte outshines Wilde).

But, even without a superstar in the lead role, this movie is a classic. So next time you are in the mood for a tough as nails cops and robbers tale, reach for the Big Combo, a classic film noir shot in gorgeous black and white.

Buy The Big Combo On DVD