The Big Combo
Seen it?1955 | 88 min | Drama, Crime
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved Heat or L.A. Confidential, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 28 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1955: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Police Lt. Leonard Diamond vies to bring a clever, well connected, and sadistic gangster to justice all the while obsessing over the gangster's girlfriend.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 61K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Joseph H. Lewis
- Cornel WildeLeonard Diamond
- Jean WallaceSusan Lowell
- Brian DonlevyJoe McClure
- Richard ConteMr. Brown
- Lee Van CleefFante
- Earl HollimanMingo
- Robert MiddletonPolice Capt. Peterson
- Helen WalkerAlicia Brown
- Jay AdlerDetective Sam Hill
- John HoytNils Dreyer