David In TN
friday, november 15, 2024 at 9:49:00 p.m. est
TCM's Film Noir of the Week Saturday Night-Sunday Morning at midnight and 10 a.m. ET is Joseph H. Lewis' The Big Combo (1955) with Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte, Brian Donlevy, Jean Wallace, Lee Van Cleef, Earl Holliman and Helene Stanton.
Film Noir Guide: "A police lieutenant (Wilde), obsessed with arresting Conte, the head of a local mob called simply 'the organization,' pines for Conte's moll (Wallace). But it's burlesque star Stanton he turns to when he needs some TLC. Wallace, meanwhile, seemingly tormented with guilt about her lustful feelings for Conte, makes a feeble attempt at suicide.
"Two hit men roommates (Van Cleef and Holliman) seem to be romantically involved with each other, while Donlevy, once Conte's boss but now his hearing-impaired underling, makes the mistake of trying to take over.
"With its talented cast and top-notch direction, the sexy and violent Combo is an excellent noir choice for fans who enjoy the films of Quentin Tarantino."
David in TN: The Big Combo is a good film, even when you have no use for Tarantino.
This has a great title theme by David Raksin.
ReplyDeleteWhat does Tarantino have to do with anything? The only thing I saw of his was PULP FICTION and I thought it was one of the dumbest movies I've ever sat through, with an absolutely repulsive cast. Also, he's anti-cop and pro-black. Would never watch anything else from him.
-RM
TCM's Film Noir of the Week Saturday Night-Sunday Morning at Midnight and 10 a.m. ET is Richard Fleischer's Trapped (1949) with Lloyd Bridges, John Hoyt, Barbara Payton, James Todd.
ReplyDeleteFilm Noir Guide: "Convict Bridges, serving time for counterfeiting, is set free to help the Secret Service find the gang that's using his old counterfeit plates. Bridges escapes the T-men, foolishly thinking he's pulled a fast one, but it's all part of the agents' plan, as is their surveillance of his girlfriend (Payton).
"Hoyt, who was usually typecast as a gangster or an evil Nazi, is the Treasury agent who goes undercover to gain Bridges' trust and to nab Todd, the head of the ring. Bridges was always terrific as a bad guy, and though he's not Quite as despicable here as in Try and Get Me, he still elicits his share of hisses.
"Despite its similarities to T-Men, Trapped stands on its own as a suspenseful and well-plotted noir.
David In TN: On Friday Night beginning at 8 p.m. ET TCM shows several Noir films, all from the year 1944. The first is Double Indemnity, followed by Laura, Murder My Sweet, Phantom Lady, The Mask of Demetrios.