I love the lighting, too, all throught the film The beginning and ending, in particular, are noteworthy. The last scene is often shown in books and websites about the genre.
"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne
I agree - especially about the lighting. Let's face it - cinematographers just didn't come any better than John Alton. He was the god of noir cinematography, even better than Nicholas Musuraca.
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I have to admit my affection for The Big Combo is even greater than it is for Joseph Lewis's earlier Gun Crazy. Chiaroscuro is Lewis's domain. Darkness disguises cheap sets but it takes a visual artist like Lewis to make the black work, to infect it with just enough light so that anything other than dark seems wrong and unnatural.
shareYeah, the lighting and the cinematography were great, but the acting also carried it with John Conte, Jean Wallace's femme fatale, Brian Donlevy...all great.
Captain Warren 'Rip' Murdock: I'm the brass-knuckles-in-the-teeth-to-dance-time type.
David Raksin's score adds a lot to the experience as well. When I think noir, I think of Cornel Wilde's Lt. Diamond, a victim to his obsession. I love Donlevy as McClure. Everything clicked for this movie.
"It's as red as The Daily Worker and just as sore."
I finally saw it last night, and loved it!! Richard Conte was one mean dude. It's among the best film-noirs I've seen.
"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."
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Oh man, all you guys have got to be kidding; this thing sucks hair balls; over ripe, underacted, except by Conte, a wheezer all the way!!
Nothing is more beautiful than nothing.
Between this and Don Barzini in the Godfather, the least we could do is see that he's officially declared Best Mob Boss Ever.
With the monkey wrench, in the conservatory.
Yeah Conte was very good at playing suave mobsters.
I think The Big Combo is a great film noir, one of the best. The acting, lighting, camerawork and music are all top notch.
I found the DVD at a record store and was I glad! It is often mentioned along with stills in Noir books. I enjoyed the film very much.
"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne