🎥 Review: The Big Combo (1955)

"First is first, and second is nobody."

Shot in only 26 days, The Big Combo (1955) is a masterpiece of American film noir, directed by Joseph H. Lewis, who also helmed the classic Gun Crazy. Written by Philip Yordan and shot by the legendary cinematographer John Alton, the film is a stunning example of how to create a moody and atmospheric crime drama on a low budget. Lewis's style mainly involves capturing scenes without any cuts or breaks. Then incorporating Alton's elements like black velvet, a fog machine, and well-placed single lights, it skillfully creates an enchanting chiaroscuro effect. Co-produced and starring Cornel Wilde, featuring Helen Walker (known for her role in Nightmare Alley) in her final performance, and with Helene Stanton portraying his burlesque dancer girlfriend. But this film also showcases the exceptional talent of Richard Conte, who delivers a chilling portrayal of a sadistic crime boss, his second in command Brian Donlevy who he loves to humiliate, Lee Van Cleef, and Earl Holliman as his henchmen, who are clearly more than just friends, and Jean Wallace (Cornel's real-life wife), as the object of Conte's obsession. Their scenes are both disturbing and erotic.

The story revolves around a determined police detective who is determined to bring down a notorious gang leader. However, his obsession with the gangster's girlfriend has become unhealthy, as he believes she holds the key to his victory.

A woman dresses for a man. You dress for me. Go put on something white!

In an era filled with daring and provocative moments, one scene stands out as both risqué and controversial. It involves Conte gracefully disappearing from the frame to engage in an oral sex act with Wallace. Wallace made a special request for Wilde to stay away from the set during the filming of this scene. After watching the final cut of the movie, Wilde was said to be furious with the suggestive and bold depiction of sexuality. The film is filled with violence and torture, but it's also a work of art, with crisp and cynical dialogue and stunning visual storytelling. If you're a fan of film noir, The Big Combo is a must-see.

Comments

🎥 Review: Key Largo (1948)

"When your head says one thing and your whole life says another, your head always loses." John Huston directed this film-noir masterpiece with an incredible cast which included the legendary Humphrey Bogart, Lionel Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, and the fabulous Claire Trevor - who won an Oscar for her outstanding performance. The movie is set in Key Largo, where a hurricane is fast approaching, adding to the already-tense atmosphere inside the hotel. The sadistic mobster Johnny Rocco storms in and takes the hotel owner, James Temple, his widowed daughter-in-law Nora, and ex-GI Frank McCloud, hostage at gunpoint. Fun fact: When Claire Trevor asked John Huston for some insight into her character, he gave her a hilarious description of "a drunken dame whose elbows are always a little too big, voice a little too loud, and a little too polite. Very sad, very resigned." And to top it off, he even showed her how to embody the character by leaning on the ...

🛣️🎥 Road Trip! & Film Review: A Christmas Story- What I Want for Christmas by Ralphie Parker

“What I want for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time. I think that everybody should have a Red Ryder BB gun. They’re very good for Christmas I don't think that a football's a very good Christmas present." This is the class theme and Christmas wish of 9-year-old Ralphie from the 1983 film A Christmas Story. During the holiday season, I usually watch classic Christmas films like A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life. While I adore these movies, what I particularly love about A Christmas Story is its nostalgic portrayal of the joys and anticipation of being a child before Christmas. It gives us a glimpse into what kids really desire for Christmas from their own perspective. I just had the incredible opportunity to watch the film on the big screen surrounded by my loved ones and friends. The shared delight of experiencing this movie together truly enhanced my entire experience. When A Christma...

🛣️ Road Trip: Bogie & Bacall Slept Here

Nestled in the charming hills of Pleasant Valley Road in Lucas, Ohio, you'll find Malabar Farm - a lovely estate built in 1938 by Louis Bromfield. Born in Mansfield, Ohio in 1896, he was a farmer, conservationist and published 33 books of fiction and nonfiction including a Pulitzer Prize, 18 best-selling novels, and 14 major motion pictures. This picturesque farm holds a special place in Hollywood history, serving as a peaceful escape for celebrities seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of the big cities in the 1940s. One of the most memorable events to take place in the great entrance hall of the big house between the open staircases was the wedding of iconic actors Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall on this day in film history May 21, 1945. I had the incredible opportunity to visit this historic farm and follow in the footsteps of the the classic stars who stayed here and the legendary couple's marriage ceremony. Let's go back to the beginning - the farm's n...

🎥 Review: Shoot the Moon (1982)

There have been motion pictures made about the collapse of marriages. Scenes froth with denial, anger, depression, to bitter custody battles and destructive emotions of jealousy and abuse. Some that comes to mind like Scenes from a Marriage (1974), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), An Unmarried Woman (1979), and more recently A Marriage Story (2019). But none of them in my opinion quite captured the confusion, heartbreak, and turmoil like Shoot the Moon (1982). The phrase "shoot the moon," comes from the card game hearts. It refers to taking a risk when playing your hand to achieve a higher score. Directed by Alan Parker (Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Fame) and written by Bo Goldman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Melvin, and Howard). The film depicts an intense look at marital disintegration from the perspective of both parents and their children. Parker and Goldman called upon their marriages to create the screenplay. The late Albert Finney and Diane Keaton are T...

🎥 Review: Three on A Match (1932)

“I suppose I should be the happiest woman in the world. Beautiful home, a successful husband, and a nice youngster, but . . . somehow, the things that make other people happy leave me cold. I guess something must have been left out of my makeup.” Today marks the 90th anniversary of the enforcement of the Production Code on this day in film history. The Hayes Code, or Hays Code as some like to call it, was established in 1930 but didn't start cracking down on those filmmakers until 1934. Its main goal was to keep films squeaky clean and avoid government interference. But before mid-1934, some movies were rebels who didn't care about those guidelines. This era gave us some raw and unfiltered cinema that truly captured the essence of the time. I'm low-key obsessed with pre-code flicks, there's just something so refreshingly honest about them. I recently introduced the pre-code classic Three on a Match from 1932, to my boyfriend, who had never seen it before...

🎳 Happy National Bowling Day! Cinematic Bowling Frame by Frame

Let's bowl, let's bowl, let's rock 'n roll . Hey, come on! Let's get this show on the road" .... Bowling is one of my absolute favorite hobbies. Whenever I watch a classic film and there's a scene at a bowling alley, I can't help but sit up and pay close attention. I love seeing how old bowling alleys are used in movies to enhance the storyline. My rule for classic films is anything before 1987, but I'll explain why later. I'm sure I'll find more films with bowling scenes, but these are the ones I've seen so far. “The Cobra Goddess will avenge herself! One by one, you will all die!” . Bowl for your health at Rico's ( David Janssen). Or maybe not? The horror film Cult of the Cobra (1955). In the 1982 musical Grease 2, the Bowl-a-Rama serves as the primary gathering spot for the high schoolers. In this scene, Paulette (played by Lorna Luft, daughter of Judy Garland) refuses to nail while she sings and bowls alongside Johnny (Adri...

Search This Blog