The Big Heat (1953)
A brilliant crime drama from director Fritz Lang which sees Glenn Ford's honest cop Dave Bannion investigating the apparent suicide of a long serving fellow officer. Despite being ordered to cease the investigation Bannion soon links it to corrupt city official Mike Lagana (A very slimy Alexander Scourby) and his vicious henchman Vince Stone (Lee Marvin).
There's some outstanding screen writing on offer here from Sydney Boehm. Between him and Lang they introduce groups of characters and give them fully rounded personalities in seconds. Whether it's Bannion and his near idyllic home life or not even secondary characters in it for a single scene such as the former soldiers guarding Bannion's daughter. Pretty much a single line each yet you know she'll be safe in their care and no mob enforcers would get through.
The main characters are all beautifully written, with Gloria Grahame almost getting two introductory scenes. The first bullied by the despicable Marvin and the second in a group scene with politicians and criminals alike. "And now it's my turn. Jump Debbie, jump Debbie, jump Debbie" A sequence of genuine fun in a brutal and gripping portrayal of organised crime.
Another on the 'must upgrade to Blu-ray' list. Highly recommended.
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