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The Big Heat

Play trailer Poster for The Big Heat Released Oct 14, 1953 1h 30m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 75 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.
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The Big Heat

The Big Heat

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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Chuck Bowen Slant Magazine The Big Heat is a feast of resonant, unsentimental terseness. Jul 3, 2025 Full Review 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 James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk Although shot on an extremely tight schedule, it exudes a palpable sense of menace and sadism that dovetails powerfully with its depiction of widespread corruption. Rated: 3.5/4 Jul 26, 2025 Full Review Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness The cruel inevitability makes all that follows something that we must accept because this is now a world devoid of hope and barely holding on to something resembling a conscience. Jul 16, 2025 Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending Grahame, combining acerbic wit and protective vanity with a self-reflexive attitude, kills as Debby...The character breaks new cinematic femme-fatale ground in her thirst for revenge.. It’s a fearless performance. One for the books. Rated: A Jul 15, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jarrod R "What's a pirate's favorite genre of movie?" "Film NoiRRRRRRRRRRRR" *pause for groans from audience* In this 50's noir, Glenn Ford takes the lead as Dave Bannion, an intrepid homicide detective who begins to find dirt at every layer in a suspicious case of a colleague who has died by suicide. After interviewing the new widow, he receives a tip that the victim had a mistress, a barfly who ends up dead soon after providing him with some crucial information. Bannion continues to put the pieces together, and everything points to the crime syndicate, led by the Big Boss, Mike Lagana, played by Alexander Scourby. Lagana is smooth as silk, but just under the surface, you can tell that he means business. Bannion needs answers and leaves Lagana's home, having made an insidious enemy. Bannion is a family man with a better half named Katie, played by Jocelyn Brando. Brando invigorates their scenes and provides a nice contrast to Bannion's driven cop. We sense their connection and really feel for their relationship. Being a police officer's wife is no easy task, and Katie knows the territory. Tragedy strikes when a car bomb meant for Bannion kills Katie and takes his singular drive to a new level. With his superiors in the department telling him to drop it, he turns in his badge and goes it alone. In the process, he has an interaction with one of Lagana’s ruthless lieutenants, Vince Stone, played by the legendary Lee Marvin in one of his early roles. Of course, there’s a femme fatale, and this time, it’s Gloria Grahame playing Stone’s “gal,” Debby. After a disturbing incident where a jealous Stone scalds Debby, Bannion finds an uneasy ally in the case. Would give one of my MVP awards to Gloria Grahame, who shows a ton of range going from just the “arm candy” for the inner circle of an organized crime syndicate to a vulnerable victim of the circumstances around her and then a vengeful woman looking to balance the scales. I was also taken by Jocelyn Brando’s performance. She was playful and supportive, but not the typical “housewife” from other stories from the 1950s era. Her death had even more of an impact because I felt I had a chance to get to know her character. The Big Heat is a unique noir, thanks in part to the director Fritz Lang, who provided a distinctive tone and his own stamp on the genre. This would be one that I would recommend as a nice example of the genre, and would most likely look up again. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/23/25 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
The Big Heat

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Movie Info

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)
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