The Big Heat (1953) Movie Overview

The Big Heat is a 1953 film noir directed by Fritz Lang, starring Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, and Lee Marvin. It is about a cop who takes on the crime syndicate that controls his city after the brutal murder of his beloved wife. 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. 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 depression. However, Bannion is then contacted by the late cop’s mistress, Lucy Chapman (Dorothy Green), who claims that it could not have been suicide. From her, Bannion learns that the Duncans had a second home which would not have been possible on his salary. Bannion visits Mrs Duncan (Jeanette Nolan). He asks for particulars on the second home and she resents the implication of his suspicions. The next day Bannion gets a dressing-down by Lieutenant Ted Wilks (Willis Bouchey) who is under pressure from “upstairs” to close the case. Chapman is later found dead after being tortured and c… Source

• The Big Heat Movie Details
• Director: Fritz Lang
• Tagline: A hard cop and a soft dame!
• Country: USA
• Run Time: 89 min
• Genre: Crime , Drama , Film-Noir , Mystery , Thriller

• Cast Overview
• Glenn Ford as Det. Sgt. Dave Bannion
• Gloria Grahame as Debby Marsh
• Jocelyn Brando as Katie Bannion
• Alexander Scourby as Mike Lagana
• Lee Marvin as Vince Stone
• Jeanette Nolan as Bertha Duncan

The Big Heat Movie Review from New York Times

Fritz Lang directed this gritty drama of gangland murder and police corruption, which was considered quite violent in its day. Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) is a scrupulously honest police detective who learns that one of his fellow officers has committed suicide. Bannion is told by the officer’s wife, Bertha (Jeanette Nolan), that he was severely depr… Source

The Big Heat Movie Details from Imdb

Dave Bannion is an upright but unscrupulous cop on the trail of a vicious gang he suspects holds power over the police force. Bannion is tipped off after a colleague’s suicide and his fellow officers’ suspicious silence lead him to believe that they are on the gangsters’ payroll. When a bomb meant for him kills his wife instead, Bannion becomes a f… Source

The Big Heat (1953) from YouTube