The Big Combo film noir

directed by Joseph H. Lewis
USA 1955

By 1955 film noir was nearing the completion of its ‘cycle’ (generally held to end with 1958’s Touch of Evil - thereafter we’re talking ‘revival’ or neo-noir). So it’s not surprising to find this late entrant is surprisingly modern: crime is now corporatised and suspects wind up dead (by the hands of suspicious associates) after being merely visited by the protagonist cop, a neurotically obsessive loner. In the 1940s a visit from Bogart meant he would rough you up himself.

That’s not to portray The Big Combo as some antediluvian Dirty Harry. With cameraman John Alton’s cinematography mapping its highlights this flick is unmistakably noir. Its plot turn to unearth the meaning behind one whispered name – ‘Alicia’ - is not only explicitly Kane-esque, but in tune with noir ’s preoccupation with memory and buried secrets.

Director Joseph H.Lewis is best known for Gun Crazy, a late-40s precursor to His-and-Hers crime sprees like Bonnie and Clyde and Badlands. Away from Alton’s bravura compositions, which kick in right from the opening titles (themselves an adrenalin rush of nighttime cityscapes and melodramatic 50s jazz) the film’s exposition is static, even flat at times. My theory is that cinematographer Alton effectively directed the film’s highlights. For chilling point-of-view can anything top the silent barking of the assassins’ tommy guns as the victim’s hearing aid is ripped away? Alton’s fingerprints are also undeniably all over The Big Combo’s famous final shot where, echoing Casablanca, the two survivors walk together (but not touching) side by side into the all-enveloping fog that is their future.

Excerpt from Roger Westcombe's excellent review located HERE.

Posters

Theatrical Release: 13 February 1955

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DVD Comparison:

Geneon Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for all the Screen Caps!

(Geneon Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Geneon Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC	Image Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC	Alpha Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:23:45 (FROM PAL source)	1:27:36	1:27:09
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.88 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.25 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.9 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Geneon Entertainment
Bitrate: Image Entertainment
Bitrate: Alpha
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono)
Subtitles	None	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Geneon Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: October 26, 2004 Slim transparent case Chapters 20	Release Information: Studio: Image Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: February 1, 2000 Snapper Case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Alpha Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: October 26, 2004 Keepcase Chapters 7

Comments

ADDITION: Geneon Entertainment - Oct 05' - after seeing the WildSide video logo (cat) in the opening sequence of the Geneon Edition I was anticipating the worst. It, almost unbelievably, is taken from an unconverted PAL source. This, the newest digital edition of this Public Domain film is quite poor with the only factor in its favor being the price. It doesn't even have menus or a real keepcase. The screen grabs may not show in direct comparisons to these other editions, so we have added one ghosting capture at the very end. All three are quite poor releases but if we are forced to choose it might be the Image Entertainment that is the lesser of the '3 evils' presentation-wise although it obviously has also had some manipulation, but factoring in the cost and limited availability of the Image edition, most consumers may want to go for the Geneon until a someone releases a superior edition... one day, we hope.

*****

Chroma is evident on Image release, but the contrast is better and blacks are truer compared to Alpha disc. The damage spots are identical for both editions (lips in capture #2, neck in capture #5), but Image disc doesn't suffer from interlacing (capture #4). Both titles don't have any supplements, so it's ridiculous to charge over $20 for it when there's another version available. Hopefully, like another Image film noir Dark Waters, which went out of print for a short period, The Big Combo will be re-released in a keep case with $14.98 list price.

- Gregory Meshman

DVD Menus

NO MENUS on Geneon Entertainment

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Screen Captures