Journeys in Classic Film Posted by on May 25, 2016

The different breeds of noir can end up creating a dark morass of shadows and fog, with little variety in-between that it’s remarkable that some noirs were able to stand out from the pack at all. Director Fritz Lang was a film noir maestro by the time The Big Heat was...   read more

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on July 2, 2015

The Big Heat is not a noir where the darkness comes from the shadowy visuals, but from within its characters themselves. In fact, some of these individuals are so subtle in their corruption that it easily gets overshadowed. Homicide cop Dave Bannion is, rather ironically, the straight-arrow trying t   read more

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on July 2, 2015

The Big Heat is not a noir where the darkness comes from the shadowy visuals, but from within its characters themselves. In fact, some of these individuals are so subtle in their corruption that it easily gets overshadowed. Homicide cop Dave Bannion is, rather ironically, the straight-arrow trying t   read more

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on July 2, 2015

The Big Heat is not a noir where the darkness comes from the shadowy visuals, but from within its characters themselves. In fact, some of these individuals are so subtle in their corruption that it easily gets overshadowed. Homicide cop Dave Bannion is, rather ironically, the straight-arrow trying t   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 3, 2014

Perhaps the definitive film noir bad girl, Gloria Grahame was once described as “sexy in a strange way. Like a woman who’s begging you to wallop her in the mouth, ‘cause she’d just love it.” With her expressive eyes and sulky countenance, she possessed an on-screen presence that almost always...   read more

Le Mot du Cinephiliaque Posted by Michael on February 7, 2014

The Big Heat (Fritz Lang, 1953) Homicide detective Sergeant Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) is an honest cop who investigates the death of fellow officer Tom Duncan. It would seem to be an open-and-shut case, suicide brought on by ill health. Bannion, however, is contacted by the late cop's mistress, L   read more

Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on December 6, 2013

Check out this gallery of images by the classic noir The Big Heat, directed by Fritz Lang. fritz langthe big heat   read more

Pretty Clever Films Posted by Wade Sheeler on December 6, 2013

Fritz Lang was one of the major Noir architects. His early films in Germany during the expressionist period not only influenced his later work in Hollywood, but many other directors who used Metropolis, M and his Mabuse series as templates for lighting, design as well as the fatalist themes that...   read more

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on July 2, 2013

*Contains Spoilers Starring Glen Ford, Gloria Grahame, and Lee Marvin, with direction by Fritz Lang, the film follows an everyday cop named Dave Bannion (Ford). This film-noir begins with a mysterious suicide of a cop. Soon Bannion is on the case trying to put the facts together and then everything   read more

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on July 2, 2013

*Contains Spoilers Starring Glen Ford, Gloria Grahame, and Lee Marvin, with direction by Fritz Lang, the film follows an everyday cop named Dave Bannion (Ford). This film-noir begins with a mysterious suicide of a cop. Soon Bannion is on the case trying to put the facts together and then everything   read more

All Good Things Posted by monty on February 10, 2013

Tough cop Dave Bannion about to start some s@^t! Name: Dave Bannion Occupation: Detective Sergeant First appearance: The Big Heat (1953) Number of films: 1 Enemies: Mike Lagana (head crime boss); Vince Stone (Lagana's right hand man) Family and friends: Katie (wife); Joyce (daughter); Debby Mar   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on December 11, 2012

Many noir devotees rank Fritz Lang's The Big Heat (1953) very highly, and it certainly does have a great noir look and many memorable scenes, but I find that I much prefer some of Lang's other genre outings, like The Woman in the Window (1944) and Scarlet Street (1945), to...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on December 11, 2012

Many noir devotees rank Fritz Lang's The Big Heat (1953) very highly, and it certainly does have a great noir look and many memorable scenes, but I find that I much prefer some of Lang's other genre outings, like The Woman in the Window (1944) and Scarlet Street (1945), to...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on December 11, 2012

Many noir devotees rank Fritz Lang's The Big Heat (1953) very highly, and it certainly does have a great noir look and many memorable scenes, but I find that I much prefer some of Lang's other genre outings, like The Woman in the Window (1944) and Scarlet Street (1945), to...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on October 10, 2011

Our film begins. I find it hard to believe that, as much as I love The Big Heat, and as many times as I’ve seen it this year alone, I’ve yet to write about it (except to fittingly include it in my list of top 10 films noir). This great...   read more

Pretty Clever Films Posted by Pretty Clever Film Gal on July 27, 2011

TCM is airing The Big Heat today at 1 p.m. Set your DVR because this one is a keeper. In the meantime, follow the links for some thoughtful writing on this 1953 Fritz Lang classic, starring Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, and Lee Marvin. analysisfilm noirfritz langglenn fordgloria grahamelee marvin   read more

Noir and Chick Flicks Posted by Dawn on March 14, 2010

The Big Heat (1953). Film noir directed by Fritz Lang. Cast:Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, and Lee Marvin. The film was written by former crime reporter Sydney Boehm based on a serial by William P. McGivern which appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, and was published as a novel in 1952....   read more