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IMDbPro

The Big Combo

  • 19551955
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
7.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,790
1,214
Richard Conte, Cornel Wilde, and Jean Wallace in The Big Combo (1955)
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir
A police lieutenant is ordered to stop investigating deadly crime boss Mr. Brown because he hasn't been able to get any hard evidence against him. He goes after Brown's girlfriend, who despi... Read allA police lieutenant is ordered to stop investigating deadly crime boss Mr. Brown because he hasn't been able to get any hard evidence against him. He goes after Brown's girlfriend, who despises him, for information instead.A police lieutenant is ordered to stop investigating deadly crime boss Mr. Brown because he hasn't been able to get any hard evidence against him. He goes after Brown's girlfriend, who despises him, for information instead.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
7.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,790
1,214
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Joseph H. Lewis
    • Writer
      • Philip Yordan(by)
    • Stars
      • Cornel Wilde
      • Richard Conte
      • Jean Wallace
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Joseph H. Lewis
    • Writer
      • Philip Yordan(by)
    • Stars
      • Cornel Wilde
      • Richard Conte
      • Jean Wallace
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 92User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos26

    Cornel Wilde and Jean Wallace in The Big Combo (1955)
    Richard Conte and Jean Wallace in The Big Combo (1955)
    Cornel Wilde and Jean Wallace in The Big Combo (1955)
    Richard Conte, Brian Donlevy, Cornel Wilde, and Jean Wallace in The Big Combo (1955)
    Richard Conte, Brian Donlevy, Cornel Wilde, and Jean Wallace in The Big Combo (1955)
    Cornel Wilde and Jean Wallace in The Big Combo (1955)
    Jean Wallace in The Big Combo (1955)
    Richard Conte and Brian Donlevy in The Big Combo (1955)
    Richard Conte in The Big Combo (1955)
    Cornel Wilde and Jean Wallace in The Big Combo (1955)
    Helene Stanton in The Big Combo (1955)
    Cornel Wilde and Helene Stanton in The Big Combo (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cornel Wilde
    Cornel Wilde
    • Police Lt. Leonard Diamond
    Richard Conte
    Richard Conte
    • Mr. Brown
    Jean Wallace
    Jean Wallace
    • Susan Lowell
    Brian Donlevy
    Brian Donlevy
    • Joe McClure
    Robert Middleton
    Robert Middleton
    • Police Capt. Peterson
    Lee Van Cleef
    Lee Van Cleef
    • Fante
    Earl Holliman
    Earl Holliman
    • Mingo
    Helen Walker
    Helen Walker
    • Alicia Brown
    Jay Adler
    Jay Adler
    • Detective Sam Hill
    John Hoyt
    John Hoyt
    • Nils Dreyer
    Ted de Corsia
    Ted de Corsia
    • Ralph Bettini
    Helene Stanton
    Helene Stanton
    • Rita
    Roy Gordon
    Roy Gordon
    • Audubon
    Whit Bissell
    Whit Bissell
    • Doctor
    • (scenes deleted)
    • (as Whit Bissel)
    Steve Mitchell
    • Bennie Smith
    Baynes Barron
    Baynes Barron
    • Young Detective
    James McCallion
    James McCallion
    • Frank
    Tony Michaels
    • Photo Technician
    • Director
      • Joseph H. Lewis
    • Writer
      • Philip Yordan(by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In what is arguably this film's most memorable scene, the weapon with which Richard Conte's character so effectively bludgeons Cornel Wilde's protagonist (albeit unbearably--and unforgettably--hearing-aid-enhanced) is the uncredited, off-screen contribution of the then hugely popular L.A.-based jazz ensemble Shorty Rogers and His Giants, and in particular the excellent--but in this case literally deafening--drum solo of Shelly Manne.
    • Goofs
      When John Hoyt as Dreyer reaches into his desk for a gun, the contents of the desk on the insert close-up do not match the contents on the master shot.
    • Quotes

      Leonard Diamond: She's under arrest, Mr. Brown.

      Mr. Brown: What's the charge?

      Leonard Diamond: Homicide.

      Mr. Brown: That's ridiculous, she wouldn't kill a fly.

      Leonard Diamond: She tried to kill herself

      Mr. Brown: Is that a crime?

      Leonard Diamond: It happens to be against two laws: God's and Man's. I'm booking her under the second.

    • Connections
      Edited from He Walked by Night (1948)

    User reviews92

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A Great Film-Noir with a Sleaze Story of Obsession
    The Police Lt. Leonard Diamond (Cornel Wilde) of the 93 Precinct is obsessed to find evidences against the hoodlum Mr. Brown (Richard Conte) and unsuccessfully exceeds the budget after four years of investigation with his partner, Detective Sam Hill (Jay Adler). Police Capt. Peterson (Robert Middleton) orders him to stop the investigation, telling that his obsession is personal since he has fallen in love with Brown's mistress Susan Lowell (Jean Wallace). But Susan tries to commit suicide and Diamond convinces his chief to follow one last lead, the name Alicia babbled by Susan in the hospital.

    The powerful Mr. Brown is mad with Diamond's investigation and sends his gangsters Joe McClure (Brian Donlevy), Fante (Lee Van Cleef) and Mingo (Earl Holliman) to try to stop Diamond. But the reluctant lieutenant insists in his pursue and the criminals decide to kill him. However they murder Diamond's lover Rita (Helene Stanton) by mistake. Now the obsession of Diamond becomes revenge and he will not stop until Mr. Brown is sent to justice.

    "The Big Combo" is a great film-noir by Joseph H. Lewis with a sleaze story of obsession that becomes revenge in the end. The duel between the characters performed by Cornel Wilde and Richard Conte is amazing, very well supported by Jean Wallace, Brian Donlevy, Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman. The top-notch cinematography in black and white uses lights, shades and fog to create the perfect environment for this bleak story. The "friendship" of Fante and Mingo is very suspicious, indicating that the two gangsters are more than best friends. My vote is eight.

    Title (Brazil): "Império do Crime" (Empire of the Crime")

    Note: On 23 July 2018 I saw this film again.
    helpful•12
    3
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Oct 23, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 13, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Swedish
      • Latin
      • German
    • Also known as
      • The Hoodlum
    • Filming locations
      • Kling Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Security Pictures
      • Theodora Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

    Related news

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