The Big Heat (1953)
Reference View | Change View
- Passed
- 1h 29min
- Crime, Film-Noir
- 16 Nov 1953 (Canada)
- Movie
Tough cop Dave Bannion takes on a politically powerful crime syndicate.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 2 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Glenn Ford | ... |
Sgt. Dave Bannion
|
|
| Gloria Grahame | ... |
Debby Marsh
|
|
| Jocelyn Brando | ... |
Katie Bannion
|
|
| Alexander Scourby | ... |
Mike Lagana
|
|
| Lee Marvin | ... |
Vince Stone
|
|
| Jeanette Nolan | ... |
Bertha Duncan
|
|
| Peter Whitney | ... |
Tierney
|
|
| Willis Bouchey | ... |
Lt. Ted Wilks
|
|
| Robert Burton | ... |
Gus Burke
|
|
| Adam Williams | ... |
Larry Gordon
|
|
 |
Howard Wendell | ... |
Commissioner Higgins
|
| Chris Alcaide | ... |
George Rose
|
|
| Michael Granger | ... |
Hugo
|
|
| Dorothy Green | ... |
Lucy Chapman
|
|
| Carolyn Jones | ... |
Doris
|
|
| Ric Roman | ... |
Baldy
|
|
| Dan Seymour | ... |
Mr. Atkins
|
|
| Edith Evanson | ... |
Selma Parker
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Phil Arnold | ... |
Nick (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Linda Bennett | ... |
Joyce Bannion (uncredited)
|
| Charles Cane | ... |
Hopkins (uncredited)
|
|
| Phil Chambers | ... |
Hettrick (uncredited)
|
|
| John Close | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
|
|
| Sidney Clute | ... |
Retreat Bartender (uncredited)
|
|
| John Crawford | ... |
Al (uncredited)
|
|
| John Doucette | ... |
Mark Reiner (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Kathryn Eames | ... |
Marge (uncredited)
|
| Al Eben | ... |
Harry Shoenstein (uncredited)
|
|
| Douglas Evans | ... |
Councilman Gillen (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Fritz Ford | ... |
Sailor (uncredited)
|
|
|
Jimmy Gray | ... |
Man (uncredited)
|
| Michael Jeffers | ... |
Retreat Patron (uncredited)
|
|
| Byron Kane | ... |
Dr. Jones (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Donald Kerr | ... |
Cabby (uncredited)
|
| Lyle Latell | ... |
Moving Man (uncredited)
|
|
| Harry Lauter | ... |
Hank O'Connell (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Nico Lek | ... |
Canteen Patron (uncredited)
|
| Celia Lovsky | ... |
Lagana's Mother in Portrait (uncredited)
|
|
| Herbert Lytton | ... |
Martin (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Mike Mahoney | ... |
Dixon (uncredited)
|
| Laura Mason | ... |
B-Girl (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Paul Maxey | ... |
George Fuller (uncredited)
|
| Joseph Mell | ... |
Dr. Kane (uncredited)
|
|
| John Merton | ... |
Man (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Patrick Miller | ... |
Intern (uncredited)
|
| William Murphy | ... |
Reds (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Ezelle Poule | ... |
Mrs Tucker (uncredited)
|
| Norma Randall | ... |
Jill (uncredited)
|
|
| Michael Ross | ... |
Segal (uncredited)
|
|
| Ted Stanhope | ... |
Lagana's Butler (uncredited)
|
|
| Robert Stevenson | ... |
Bill Rutherford (uncredited)
|
|
| William Vedder | ... |
Janitor (uncredited)
|
|
Directed by
| Fritz Lang | ||
Written by
| Sydney Boehm | ... | (screenplay) |
| William P. McGivern | ... | (Saturday Evening Post serial) |
Produced by
| Robert Arthur | ... | producer |
Music by
| Henry Vars | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Charles Lang | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Charles Nelson | ||
Art Direction by
| Robert Peterson | ||
Set Decoration by
| William Kiernan | ||
Costume Design by
| Jean Louis | ... | (gowns) |
Makeup Department
| Clay Campbell | ... | makeup artist |
| Helen Hunt | ... | hair stylist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Milton Feldman | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| George Cooper | ... | sound engineer |
Music Department
| Mischa Bakaleinikoff | ... | musical director |
| Daniele Amfitheatrof | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Mischa Bakaleinikoff | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| George Duning | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Carl Fortina | ... | composer: source music heard in The Retreat (uncredited) |
| Fred Karger | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Arthur Morton | ... | composer: title music (uncredited) |
| Hans J. Salter | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Ernst Toch | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Columbia Pictures (presents)
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1953) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Canada (1953) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (1953) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film A. B. (1953) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kamera Film Aktieselskap (1954) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Europa Film (1954) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film-Verleih (1954) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film-Verleih (1954) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1959) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1982) (United States) (VHS)
- Image Entertainment (1989) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1990) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (tv)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Television (2002) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (United States) (DVD) (iin "Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics!")
- Powerhouse Films (2017) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (Limited Edition)
- France 3 (1991) (France) (tv) (French subtitles)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1986) (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1988) (Australia) (video)
- The Criterion Channel (2020) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- Twilight Time (2016) (World-wide) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Western Electric (sound recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Dave Bannion is an upright cop on the trail of a vicious gang he suspects holds power over the police force. Bannion is tipped off after a colleague's suicide, and his fellow officers' suspicious silence leads him to believe that they are on the gangsters' payroll. When a bomb meant for him kills his wife instead, Bannion becomes a furious force of vengeance and justice, aided along the way by the gangster's spurned girlfriend Debby. As Bannion and Debby fall further and further into the Gangland's insidious and brutal trap, they must use any means necessary (including murder) to get to the truth. Written by alfiehitchie |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | VICE... DICE ...and CORRUPTION! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
|
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Columbia wanted to borrow Marilyn Monroe from 20th Century-Fox to play the role of Debby Marsh, but Fox's asking price was too high. Gloria Grahame was cast instead. See more » |
| Goofs | The street address for the junkyard on Bannion's list is "101", yet the number "1024" is seen on a large sign over the yard's shed. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Mean Streets (1973). See more » |
| Soundtracks | It's a Blue World See more » |
| Quotes |
Debby Marsh:
[to Bannion]
Oh, well, you're about as romantic as a pair of handcuffs. See more » |