Directed by Joseph H. Lewis, The Big Combo, which has been remastered and released by Ignite Films, is a crime drama about Police Lieutenant Leonard Diamond (Cornel Wilde), who is obsessed with bringing down crime boss Mr. Brown (Richard Conte) in part because Leonard’s obsessed with Brown’s mistress, Susan Lowell (Jean Wallace, Wilde’s real-life wife) from afar. Leonard has been investigating Brown for six months yet has nothing on him that will stick. Brown doesn’t take kindly to Leonard’s focus, leading to an extended battle between them, resulting in casualties on both sides of the law.
Buy The Big ComboSusan is trapped in her situation, guarded by a couple of Brown’s goons (Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman) when he is not around. She takes pills and ends up in hospital but survives the attempt. Later, viewers will learn from her ecstatic close-up why she stays. Leonard questions her about Alicia, a name she was repeating before she came to. After interrogating Brown, Leonard gets captured by his thugs and is tortured.
Leonard learns who Alicia is and that she was murdered. He visits Dreyer (John Hoyt), who captained the ship from which Alicia was thrown overboard. Afterwards, Dreyer is gunned down in an alley by one of Brown’s associates against Brown’s wishes. However, Alicia is discovered alive upstate, throwing a wrench into the investigation.
Brown is frequently one step ahead of Leonard, eliminating all those who can bring him down, including close associates. Will Leonard’s drive be the gangster’s downfall? Or Brown’s own ruthless? Or will yet another crook beat the system as flaunt’s society’s laws?
Philip Yordan’s screenplay also stays one step ahead. It’s not obvious who will triumph and Lewis keeps the film moving at a brisk pace with every scene feeling essential to moving the plot along. The cast do a fine job with even those playing minor roles, making their characters feel authentic to this world.
The video has been given a 2160P/HEVC encoded transfer displayed at an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A title card reveals: “This digital restoration of The Big Combo was undertaken by Ignite Films, working from a 35mm Fine Grain Answer Print and a 35mm Optical Sound Negative. The picture was restored in 4K by The Grainery, while the audio was sourced from an UCLA restoration funded by The Film Foundation. The color grading was carried out by Gosia Grzyb under the supervision and approval of Scott MacQueen.”
Rich, inky blacks showcase the the use of shadows by Cinematographer John Alton, and a full spectrum of grays is on display. Film grain is apparent and gets gauzy during closeups. The image looks clean, free from dirt or defect.
The audio available in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and 1.0. The dialogue spoken is clear. The sax wails on composer David Raskin’s moody jazz score during the opening credits. Later, some of the horns get shrill and distort such as when Dreyer leaves his shop. There’s a great dramatic moment where the audio intentionally cuts out just before someone is murdered. A hiss can be heard throughout.
The Premium Vintage Steelbook features original poster artwork. It includes a 3-disc set (UHD + 2 Blu-rays); a specially curated booklet of essays, including “Art in a Boiling Pot,” an introduction by Eddie Muller, founder of the Film Noir Foundation; and five lobby cards.
On The Big Combo discs, the Bonus Features are:
- New Audio Commentary by film historian Imogen Sara Smith. by
- Archival Audio Commentary by Muller.
- New Interview with author/critic Philippe Garnier (16 min)
- How a Man Makes a Living — How a Little Combo Made The Big Combo: New video essay by Scout Tafoya (18 min)
A second Blu-ray disc presents On the Crooked Way (1949), which does not appear to have received any restoration. Based on Robert Monroe’s radio play No Blade Too Sharp, it is directed by Robert Florey and listed as a Bonus Feature. Both films share Cinematographer John Alton.
World War II veteran Eddie Rice (John Payne) is suffering from amnesia after doctors are unable to remove shrapnel in his brain. The only information available is he enlisted in Los Angeles, which is where he heads. Cops pick him up because they recognize him as gangster Eddie Riccardi, suspected of murder and run out of town five years ago. Gangster Vince Alexander (Sonny Tufts) finds Eddie, who ratted on Vince and let him take the fall for that murder. To get revenge, Vince frames Eddie for killing Lieutenant Joe Williams (Rhys Williams).
This is a very fun noir as the character interactions and plot twists are as surprising for the main character as they are the audience. Once he understands where he stands, Eddie becomes active rather than reactive as he was in the first act of the movie. The story makes sense for the most part until the climax where it’s not clear what Vince thought was going to happen.
The disc also contains:
- Wagon Wheel Joe (19 min) – A video essay on director Joseph H. Lewis by filmmaker David Cairms
- Geoff Andrew, critic / curator, on The Big Combo (19 min)
The Big Combo release from Ignite Films earns high marks from me. It’s a very good film and been given a very good 4K Restoration with the only negative being audio hiss, which is understandable for its age. The new and archival Bonus Features allow fans to learn more about the making of the film and its director, and the bonus movie is a treat.
