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Actors: Glenn Ford, Lee Marvin, Gloria Grahame, Alexander Scourby, Jocelyn Brando
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Big Heat |
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When the head of the police department's records office apparently commits suicide, tough, honest cop Sergeant Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) is assigned to the case.
When a shady B-girl (Dorothy Green) who was seeing the victim and claims to have evidence is found brutally murdered, Bannion traces the crime to Mike Lagana (Alexander Scourby), a local Mafia chieftan who has everyone from the police commissioner (Howard Wendell) on down on his payroll.
Bannion won't give up on the case, though, and he finally draws the crime lord's ire, leading to the death of his wife (Jocelyn Brando) in a car bomb set by Lagana's brutal enforcer (Lee Marvin).
Infuriated by the refusal of the corrupt police department to pursue Lagana, Bannion hands in his badge, teaming up with a disfigured former gang moll (Gloria Grahame) to wage a war with the Mob.
--James Craver, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Big Heat |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
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elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Crime & Police Story?
Yes
Criminal enemy is...
- Mafia conflict
Romance
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- short/standard straight (man)
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn wavy
Body type
- ample bosom & buttocks (woman)
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
City?
Yes
City:
- Dirty, grimy (like New York)
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- non-gory references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- encouraged
How many deaths in film?
- 4-8
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- kissing
How much use of techno gadgets?
- 1 (None)
Kind of violence:
- guns
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 James Craver
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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