MovieChat Forums > The Big Heat (1953) Discussion > good but overrated

good but overrated

posted 8 years ago by bcstoneb444
2 replies | jump to latest

The Big Heat is often mentioned in the same breath as such noir classics as Double Indemnity, Out of the Past, Detour, etc. But I just don’t see it: Big Heat is a serviceable enough crime film, though I could quibble and make a case it’s not really film noir. It lacks the gritty, B movie feeling of the true classic noirs, and even falls short of Lang’s Forties efforts Woman in the Window and Scarlet Street. And its flat, neutral lighting lacks the requisite noir look. The Big Heat strikes me as somewhere between a B and A movie and as such simply has too well-scrubbed an exterior to capture the true noir ethos.
For me the best part of Big Heat was Gloria Graham, Lee Marvin and of course the (in)famous coffee throwing scene, which ranks right up there among the most sadistic scenes in a genre known for its sadistic scenes.
Also an honorable mention to Jeanette Nolan for her turn as a nasty, not-so-grieving widow.
All in all, a workaday, workmanlike product typical from this studio and era, a competent, professional film but no all-time classic. Just short of seven stars.
Update: I just caught Big Heat again and rather enjoyed it more than in the past, though not enough to change my basic evaluation above. This time I was struck by the supporting and bit characters sprinkled throughout: the hit man from Cleveland; B girl; sleazy bartender; auto shop manager, corrupt police commissioner, et al. Even an uncredited Carolyn Jones gets a cameo.

[–] Robbmonster 8 years ago

I appreciate your review, but boy do I despise the word 'overrated'.

Never defend crap with 'It's just a movie'
http://www.youtube.com/user/BigGreenProds

[–] Trax-3 8 years ago

The Big Heat is often mentioned in the same breath as such noir classics as Double Indemnity, Out of the Past, Detour, etc. But I just don’t see it: Big Heat is a serviceable enough crime film, though I could quibble and make a case it’s not really film noir. It lacks the gritty, B movie feeling of the true classic noirs, and even falls short of Lang’s Forties efforts Woman in the Window and Scarlet Street. And its flat, neutral lighting lacks the requisite noir look. The Big Heat strikes me as somewhere between a B and A movie and as such simply has too well-scrubbed an exterior to capture the true noir ethos.

But it's so flawlessly executed. It's one of the least flawed "noirs" I've seen.
So often, when watching them, you have to make excuses for their B movie nature, wooden acting, incomprehensible plot etc. The supposed classic Out of the Past I don't even consider a good movie - passable but irritating at best.

That being said, I've no problem with saying that this one isn't really a noir, just a very good crime film. The fact that it lacks many stylistic elements of film noir is obvious, but that doesn't make it any worse in my eyes.