The Big Combo (1955)

There is so much to the plot of The Big Combo, but the irony is that the story is not altogether extraordinary. Instead highlights include David Raksin's (Laura) jazzy score infused with brass which is somewhat usual for the genre. Cinematographer John Alton also helped in making this film visually and stylistically engaging. There are some crazy, overstated  shadows making this undeniably Film-Noir. There are very few better examples of so-called "dark" cinema with prototypical chiaroscuro and low key lighting.

Honestly, I have never been a huge fan of Cornel Wilde and I could understand why he is not that popular or well known. He's relatively beady eyed, not particularly good looking and his voice is not altogether memorable. Like Mr. Brown said in the film, "It's personality. You haven't got it. You're a cop." Even Dick Powell has some wit but Wilde's character is straitlaced and steady. Nothing of that much repute about him. But enough about Wilde.

The story is your somewhat typical procedural with a righteous cop facing off against a big time mobster. Mr. Brown is practically untouchable with a large pool of money at his disposal and a group of faithful thugs ready to do his bidding. He has a girl, Susan Lowell who is about fed up with him but she sticks around.

Lt. Diamond (Wilde) is totally fed up with the corruption but is himself also infatuated with Lowell. His only lead is the name "Alicia" which leads to trouble with Brown and his thugs who rough him up and leave him drunk. However, he learns from a man named Betini that "Alicia" was Brown's wife who was supposedly murdered and thrown overboard with an anchor.

Next on the beat is a tight-lipped Swedish antique dealer and ultimately Diamond comes up with proof that Brown's wife is still alive. He's getting too close so Mr. Brown sends out his thugs Fante and Mingo to shut him up for good. They get the wrong person.

Alicia finally turns up, a few more figures get mowed down in Mr. Brown's wake including Diamond's trusty colleague Sam (Jay Adler). All that's left is a showdown at the airport that is like Casablanca's atmosphere on steroids.

There is not a great deal of sympathy to be had for a lot of the characters who got it, and though she seemed to have little bearing on the plot, Rita's demise was surprisingly difficult to take. She was the girl with the heart of gold. Brown's heartlessness finally came back to bite him but honestly I could have cared less if Diamond was the one to catch him or not. He couldn't have done it without Susan anyways.

3.5/5 Stars