MovieChat Forums > The Big Combo (1955) Discussion > This is a very Mature and Impressive Fil...

This is a very Mature and Impressive Film

posted 12 years ago by Jonny_B_Lately
1 reply | jump to latest

OK. I know that sounds lame, but most film noir only hinted at sex. This one seems much more obvious. Rita's interaction with Detective Diamond. Susan's reactions with Mr. Brown. Fanta and Mingo's relationship.

Not much is actually shown, but you know these people are intimate with each other. Very intimate. I'm just very impressed with the acting and the writing. The dialog just blows me away.

And the cast. These are the absolute best B movie actors. Earl Holliman, Lee Van Cleef, Cornel Wilde (never knew he was in a film noir movie), Brian Donlevy, and Richard Conte. It's just an amazing combination of actors and they do such a convincing job portraying the characters.

Conte as Mr. Brown is chilling, the character has so big an ego it's hard to imagine it would all fit in that frame. Cornel Wilde's police detective is dogged and determined a true crusader. Jean Wallace's Susan, "good girl" gone bad is very convincing. And Helene Stanton as the exotic beauty Rita a strip-tease artist with a heart of gold who will take her detective back on any condition.

Where has this been?

And to think I stumbled across this in a 20 movie "bonus" pack.

Watta ya lookn here for?

[–] Jessica_Rabbit69 11 years ago

I just saw this movie again and must say I enjoyed it very much. The subject of sex is indeed treated quite openly for the 50's.

The cop has a burlesque dancer part-time girlfriend. (Nowadays you would call her his stripper booty call/you-know-what buddy/friends with benefits.)

You have two gay henchmen who are an oddly likable pair for all their brutality and ruthlessness. Lee Van Cleef's menacing sexiness must have something to do with that. :)

Mr. Brown is not only obsessed with power and always being No.1 ("First is first and second is nothing"), but is also quite proud of his success and prowess with women.
His girl-friend has been with him for four years while sinking further into the gutter quite frankly because sex with him is good!

The only slightly (I say slightly) weak spot was Jean Wallace in my opinion. (I seem to be alone in this opinion though). Don't get me wrong, she is quite beautiful and looks the part, but I can think of quite a few actresses of the time who would have infused her part as the good-bad-girl with more character and danger.

You can't really call her a femme fatale because she is not conniving and manipulative enough for that. She is being manipulated throughout the film.

The real female star of the film for me was Helen Stanton as the burlesque dancer. I have no idea why Diamond preferred Susan over her.

Jessica Rabbit
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."