Special Features:
Theatrical Trailer

I have a seen a few hundred film noirs in my life and every time I come back to Fritz Lang's The Big Heat I am amazed at how strong of a film it continues to be. From the opening shot of a cop committing suicide and his wife pocketing his confession note to the scalding of a gangster's girlfriend with a boiling pot of coffee The Big Heat is filled with a liveliness that is rarely scene in a film from its time. In this film, almost everyone whether direct or indirect, is on the take. When Sgt. Bannion (Glenn Ford) starts to investigate the cops suicide, the brass in the office start suggesting he let it go. When he doesn't take their hints the local mob boss puts a hit out on him and all hell breaks loose from there.

In a review I once read about The Big Heat, Bannion's home life was described as artificial, but when I saw the film first time (and continue to feel) that it was one of the more realistic portrayals of a family in the 50's. Bannion and his wife seem like two real people, who love each other, and talk about everyday things instead the big picture all of the time. The little details seem right and I really like the way his wife drinks from his glass of beer or scotch.

Fritz Lang's direction is outstanding and every performance shines. This has to be considered one of Glenn Ford's greatest performances. I especially like his simmering rage in the scene where he comes out of the morgue, after looking at the body of a tortured murder victim he had just talked to the evening before. Lee Marvin plays the psychotic gangster with just the right amount edge and in the end Gloria Grahame delivers one of her more touching performances.

This DVD was released last December in what looks like a brand new transfer from an extremely clean print. Charles Lang cinematography is perfectly transferred here with just a few areas in which the film looks slightly washed out. For the most part we get rich grays and deep blacks. Sound quality is also very good. I only noticed two instances where the sound seemed to dip a little bit. With this type of film you wouldn't necessarily expect a lot of extras and that is exactly what we get. There are some promo materials and a trailer which round out the package but nothing else.

Add The Big Heat to your must see list if you are the slightest fan of old movies.