Monday Morning Maybe

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Poster for The Big Heat

The Big Heat

Seen it?

1953 | 89 min | Crime, Thriller

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Critics loved it (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense, gritty.
The pace
Fast-moving, at 1 hr 29 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1953: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

After the suspicious suicide of a fellow cop, tough homicide detective Dave Bannion takes the law into his own hands when he sets out to smash a vicious crime syndicate.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    94% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.7 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 117K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Fritz Lang

  • Glenn FordDet. Sgt. Dave Bannion
  • Gloria GrahameDebby Marsh
  • Jocelyn BrandoKatie Bannion
  • Alexander ScourbyMike Lagana
  • Lee MarvinVince Stone
  • Jeanette NolanBertha Duncan
  • Peter WhitneyTierney
  • Willis BoucheyLt. Ted Wilks
  • Robert BurtonDet. Gus Burke
  • Adam WilliamsLarry Gordon