The Big Heat

            Pauline Kael described Fritz Lang’s 1953 film The Big Heat as “A definitive film noir…it’s designed in light and shadows, and its underworld atmosphere glistens with the possibilities of sadism.” Criterion has just put out a stunning 4K UHD Blu-ray of this unforgettable Fritz Lang masterwork.

            While Alfred Hitchcock had audiences nervous about taking showers and Steven Spielberg made people fearful to jump into the ocean, Fritz Lang made you mortally afraid of a simple shot of a coffee pot bubbling on a hot plate. 

            Glenn Ford stars as Sgt. Dave Bannion, a decent cop and family man, disgusted that the town he lives in is run by a crime syndicate whose tentacles reach right into the higher ups in the police department. At home, he has a loving and equal partnership with his wife (Jocelyn Brando). She takes a drag off his cigarette, takes a swig from his drink and encourages him to “keep leading with your chin,” when it comes to fighting the widespread corruption. 

            But after a catastrophic tragedy, Bannion is transformed into an avenging angel, out to bring down the wealthy crime boss Mike Lagana (Alexander Scourby) and all his underlings. A corrupt official has him fired from the force, but, undeterred, Bannion pushes on, becoming almost as frightening as the people he is pursuing.  

            On an extra on the disc Martin Scorsese comments on the flatness of the way Lang’s thrillers looked during this period. On an audio interview with Peter Bogdanavich, Fritz Lang explains that he wanted these crime films to have a documentary feel about them. He purposefully avoided showy camerawork, but his framing of each scene is studied and perfect. Lang also says, “I think that this is the main characteristics of my pictures- the fight against destiny- the fight against fate.” And then there are the women in the film.

            This may be the quintessential Gloria Grahame film. She plays Debby Marsh, the mink-clad, flashy girlfriend of one of Lagana’s enforcers- Vince Stone (Lee Marvin), a sadistic brute. Debby becomes intrigued with Bannion when he comes to the aid of a bar girl (Carolyn Jones) after Vince crushes out a cigarette on her hand. She dangerously pursues Bannion and he is thoroughly dismissive of her, even when she puts her life in danger feeding him information. Grahame is magnificent in the film- every slinky movement or snarky retort has the audience rooting for her. So when Vince Stone throws a pot of boiling hot coffee right in her face, it is all the more horrifying.

            Jeanette Nolan gives a steely, sensational performance as Bertha Duncan, the widow of a cop who shoots himself at the beginning of the film, leaving an envelope addressed to the District Attorney containing damning information that could bring down the mob. She ruthlessly uses it to her own advantage, blackmailing Lagana for financial reward. When, later in the film, Grahame’s Debby confronts Bertha calling her a “sister under the mink,” Bertha is highly offended. She considers herself classier than Debby. But they are both exactly the same, up to their necks in the criminal cesspool that has overrun “Kenport.”

            Edith Evanson is also wonderful as the crippled bookkeeper who provides Bannion with important information. She realizes that, because of the way she is, she is practically invisible to everyone around her. So, she can supply Bannion with plenty of evidence to help his vengeful search for justice.

            Dorothy Green is just heartbreaking as the bar girl and lush who once dated the cop who committed suicide. She tries to offer Bannion some useful information but he brushes her off, and it leads to more tragedy. Bannion’s scorched-earth crusade may have the best intentions, but the havoc it leaves in its wake is unimaginable.

            This was out on Blu-ray years ago from Twilight Time, but went out of print almost immediately. Because it became so rare, I practically slept with it to secure its safety. This Criterion Blu-ray looks even better and the 4K deepens the blacks and illuminates everything in the frame in ways that add to the film’s luster and savage power. 

            If you don’t buy this immediately, you’re an asshole.