The Big Heat

Play trailer

The Big Heat

Released Oct 14, 1953

1h 30m

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

71 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A police officer seems to have committed suicide, but Detective Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) thinks there's more to the story. After talking to the man's mob-connected mistress, Bannion discovers far-reaching corruption that leads all the way from the police station to kingpin Mike Lagana (Alexander Scourby). But when the policeman's lover is killed, it becomes clear that crossing Lagana is a dangerous thing to do. Soon Bannion finds himself marked for death and his family in mortal danger.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Presented with stark power by director Fritz Lang, The Big Heat is a delightfully grim noir that peers into the heart of darkness without blinking.

Read Critics Reviews

Lindsay Anderson

Sight & Sound

Above all, it is directed with a dramatic incisiveness, a sharp-edged observation that keeps the pitch of interest and excitement continuously high.

Apr 11, 2024

Full Review

Helen Bower

Detroit Free Press

It has the kind of socko that will lies behind a good many small items in the newspapers and behind the big stories that make the evil deeds of the Medicis amateurish and simple in comparison.

Apr 11, 2024

Full Review

Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

Ford has seldom been seen to better advantage than as Bannion... Miss Grahame adds another fine performance to those that already stand to her credit; while Scourby, Marvin and Adam Williams create genuinely terrifying portraits of beasts of prey.

Apr 11, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A brutal bit of film noir.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 21, 2024

Full Review

Joshua Polanski

Midwest Film Journal

The Big Heat is a pessimistic, mordacious, even feral film in the late style of the great director...

Jul 4, 2024

Full Review

P.S. Harrison

Harrison's Reports

One of the best produced crime melodramas to have come out of Hollywood in some time. It is taut and exciting, and the direction and acting are so skillful that one is made to feel as if present at a real-life occurrence.

Apr 11, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Revolver 0

Absolute crime classic

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

Full Review

Insomniac X

Iconic two-fisted film noir starring Glenn Ford as a renegade cop out for revenge. This tightly paced scorcher set the template for countless crime dramas to follow, with great supporting work from Lee Marvin as a sadistic mob lieutenant, and Gloria Grahame as the gangster's moll who gets burned. Keeps the pressure building throughout, with surprising emotional overtones as it nears the finale. Enough said. If you don't like The Big Heat, you can "turn in your badge and your gun!"

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

Full Review

Will G

A great Noir movie. The same actor from “Gilda”. Someone gets coffee thrown in their face. Great acting. Fritz Lang is a famous director, he also made “Metropolis”. Overall a nice film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/06/25

Full Review

Blobbo X

Well done but something missing. Fell asleep halfway through so can't pinpoint problem area. (Maybe Glenn Ford lack of range?) Early Lee Marvin always impress though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

Full Review

Mike W

A very enjoyable movie, the second recent that I have seen with Glen Ford. He was excellent in both. I used to think I didnt care for his movies but that has changed.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

Full Review

Leaburn O

Standard detective v crime Gand shtick but done tidily and at a good pace. An enjoyable crime thriller from yesteryear. Watched on SKY Cinema.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/03/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Fritz Lang

Director

Glenn Ford

Det. Sgt. Dave Bannion

Gloria Grahame

Debby Marsh

Jocelyn Brando

Katie Bannion

Alexander Scourby

Mike Lagana

Lee Marvin

Vince Stone

So Dark the Night

100%

40%

So Dark the Night

Watchlist

Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round

33%

30%

Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round

Watchlist

The Blue Gardenia

85%

62%

The Blue Gardenia

Watchlist

Human Desire

60%

74%

Human Desire

Watchlist

The Street With No Name

100%

58%

The Street With No Name

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

How Agent Carter Will Capture Hollywood Glam in Season Two

View more photos

Synopsis

A police officer seems to have committed suicide, but Detective Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) thinks there's more to the story. After talking to the man's mob-connected mistress, Bannion discovers far-reaching corruption that leads all the way from the police station to kingpin Mike Lagana (Alexander Scourby). But when the policeman's lover is killed, it becomes clear that crossing Lagana is a dangerous thing to do. Soon Bannion finds himself marked for death and his family in mortal danger.

Director: Fritz Lang
Producer: Robert Arthur
Screenwriter: William P. McGivern
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 1953, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 25, 2014
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.37:1)

Most Popular at Home Now