The Big Combo

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The Big Combo

1955

1h 29m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Film noir about a police lieutenant who comes under pressure from a gang headed by a vicious thug. He is helped by the gangster's wife, jealous at her husband's affair with another woman, who supplies him with information to help him close the net on his foe.

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Keith Phipps

The Dissolve

10/14/2013

4/5

Noir wasn't new in 1955, but The Big Combo still found plenty of life within its limits.

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Variety Staff

Variety

01/25/2008

It is done with grim melodramatics that are hard-hitting despite a rambling, not-too-credible plot, and is cut out to order for the meller fan who likes his action rough and raw.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

01/25/2008

Where the usual noir takes place in a nightmare world, this one seems to inhabit a dream: there's no longer fear in the images, but rather a distanced, idealized beauty.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

12/18/2020

2.5/4

...a compelling, promising setup that's employed to mostly watchable yet undeniably erratic effect...

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

10/17/2009

A pond of shifting alliances and kinks

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TV Guide

01/25/2008

3/4

A fatalistic symphony of light and shade.

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Russ G

@RT78760655 Jan 27

A well-made noir with all the requisite atmospherics, though it does unfold llke a straight-forward procedural. Richard Conte is perfect as the monster.

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Mark H

@Zeppo Oct 18

Broken and damaged cast inflict betrayal, mayhem and misery on everyone around them, the pedestrian plot being rather beside the point. After all, we are all alone, aren't we?

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JJJJJJ J

@RT10868636 04/16/2023

Underrated noir that deserves more attention. The film played with some really interesting themes that both worked for the genre but also kept the movie engaging. The character creations was quite good and though most fell into cliche categories they also felt unique and individual. There were some really good one liners in this movie as well. I would recommend this film to any fans of the genre.

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deke p

@RT96675217 05/28/2021

1955! Film Noir. Great cast. Love the Cornell. And that blonde was freshfaced and glookn! Never heard of before saw on tv 5.2021. And by amazing coincidence, just this morning I had The BIG COMBO at Taco Bell. What are the odds.

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Jessica C

@RT35720282 01/29/2021

It's a nice film noir but nothing too special. Helped me pass the time though!

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Blobbo X

@Blobbo 08/02/2020

Better than big combo Blobbo order from Wendy's.

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Joseph H. Lewis

Director

Cornel Wilde

Police Lt. Leonard Diamond

Richard Conte

Mr. Brown

Brian Donlevy

Joe McClure

Jean Wallace

Susan Lowell

Robert Middleton

Police Capt. Peterson

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Synopsis

Film noir about a police lieutenant who comes under pressure from a gang headed by a vicious thug. He is helped by the gangster's wife, jealous at her husband's affair with another woman, who supplies him with information to help him close the net on his foe.

Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Producer: Sidney Harmon
Screenwriter: Philip Yordan
Distributor: Allied Artists Pictures
Production Co: Allied Artists
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 13, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 29m

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