The Big Heat

 Year:   1953

Director:  Fritz Lang

Screenplay:  William P. McGivern, based on the novel The Big Heat by William P. McGivern

Starring:  Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Jocelyn Brando, Alexander Scourby, Lee Marvin

Running Time:  90 minutes

Genre:  Thriller

While investigating the apparent suicide of a police officer, detective Sergeant Dave Bannion (Ford) finds himself pitted against a powerful crime syndicate that effectively owns the city including the police department.  When Bannion's wife is killed by a bomb that was intended for him, his pursuit for justice becomes a quest for vengeance.

This is a powerful slice of film noir from legendary director Fritz Lang, who began with such ground-breaking films as Metropolis (1926) and M (1931) before moving to America where he specialised in bleak crime dramas.  Beginning as a serial in the Saturday Evening Post by writer William P. McGivern, who subsequently published the story as a novel and wrote the screenplay for the film, the tale is tense and exciting, with often darkly witty, hard-boiled dialogue.  Beginning as a square jawed heroic tough guy, and devoted family man, Glenn Ford's Dave Bannion devolves into an obsessive antihero increasingly consumed by his desire for vengeance.  Gloria Grahame is impressive as the gangster's moll who becomes consumed with her own quest for vengeance as well as offering salvation of a kind for the tormented Bannion.  Jocelyn Brando, the older sister of Marlon Brando, doesn't really get to make much of an impression as the devoted wife before she gets blown up.  The film is surprisingly violent for the time, in particular the notorious scene where Lee Marvin throws boiling coffee in Gloria Grahame's face.

Gloria Grahame and Glenn Ford in The Big Heat

Gilda

Year of Release:  1946
Director:  Charles Vidor
Screenplay:  Jo Eisinger, Marion Parsonnet and Ben Hecht
Starring:  Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready, Joseph Calleia
Running Time:  110 minutes
Genre:  film noir, crime, drama, romance,

In Buenos Aires, small time American gambler Johnny Farrell (Ford) manages to get a job with sinister casino owner Ballin Mundson (Macready).  As time passes, Farrell and Mundson form a friendship, however when Mundson introduces Farrell to his glamorous new wife Gilda (Hayworth), it soon becomes apparent that Farrell and Gilda have a past.

This has become one of the classic Hollywood films, with Rita Hayworth being the quintessential femme fatale.  Photographed in glittering silver, her introduction has become iconic, as is her striptease (at least, she takes off her gloves) to the song "Put the Blame on Mame".  However, Hayworth gives Gilda a vulnerability as well as sex appeal.  Glenn Ford is also striking as the thuggish Farrell.  The crime story at the center of the film is always second place to the love triangle, although seen through today's eyes, it's strongly hinted that the love triangle isn't quite what it appears.    

Rita Hayworth in Gilda