The Big Combo (1950)
Richard Conte wasn’t typecast as bad guys for no reason. In The Big Combo, he’s positively evil! Yes, there’s still a healthy element of sex appeal about him, as there is with all villains, but he’s so horrible in this movie, I found myself actively hoping he would die a painful death. In one particularly menacing scene he sticks a hearing aide in Cornel Wilde’s ear and starts shouting in the microphone. After he’s sufficiently tortured, Richard then waterboards him with whiskey so he won’t be believed if he reports the incident. In another scene, he threatens an old, doddering crony, “Maybe you’ll live long enough to die in bed.”
Unfortunately, Brian Donlevy plays the old, doddering crony. He has a hearing aid and even admits he’s too old to handle a gun. It’s sad for his fans, but he does give a very good performance. His heart goes out to Cornel during the torture scene and he watches with tears in his eyes. Cornel plays a police detective with a knack for false arrests. He knows in his gut he’s right about Richard, and he’s determined to nail him on his latest crime. When Jean Wallace, Richard’s moll, attempts suicide, Cornel thinks she’s depressed enough to squeal on her lover. He doesn’t count on getting in way over his head, or on falling in love with her. Cornel and Jean were married in real life at the time, so it’s no wonder she requested he leave the set during the groundbreaking sex scene she had with Richard.
I almost skipped this movie, since I always jokingly refer to Cornel Wilde as “the poor man’s Dana Andrews.” I’m glad I watched it, though, since it was a very solid film noir. It’s suspenseful, dramatic, and features performances just as strong as the script. While Dana could have easily played this part (he acted plenty of noirs), Cornel holds his own. Keep your eyes open for Robert Middleton, Lee Van Cleef, Helen Walker, and a young Earl Holliman in the supporting cast. And keep your ears open for another great theme by composer David Raksin.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Brian Donlevy movies here!
Unfortunately, Brian Donlevy plays the old, doddering crony. He has a hearing aid and even admits he’s too old to handle a gun. It’s sad for his fans, but he does give a very good performance. His heart goes out to Cornel during the torture scene and he watches with tears in his eyes. Cornel plays a police detective with a knack for false arrests. He knows in his gut he’s right about Richard, and he’s determined to nail him on his latest crime. When Jean Wallace, Richard’s moll, attempts suicide, Cornel thinks she’s depressed enough to squeal on her lover. He doesn’t count on getting in way over his head, or on falling in love with her. Cornel and Jean were married in real life at the time, so it’s no wonder she requested he leave the set during the groundbreaking sex scene she had with Richard.
I almost skipped this movie, since I always jokingly refer to Cornel Wilde as “the poor man’s Dana Andrews.” I’m glad I watched it, though, since it was a very solid film noir. It’s suspenseful, dramatic, and features performances just as strong as the script. While Dana could have easily played this part (he acted plenty of noirs), Cornel holds his own. Keep your eyes open for Robert Middleton, Lee Van Cleef, Helen Walker, and a young Earl Holliman in the supporting cast. And keep your ears open for another great theme by composer David Raksin.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Brian Donlevy movies here!