Mafia Week: The Big Combo
THE BIG COMBO (1955) — PROGRAM GUIDE
Synopsis
“The Big Combo” (1955) is a stark, hard‑edged American film noir about Police Lieutenant Leonard Diamond’s obsessive pursuit of the sadistic crime boss Mr. Brown. Diamond is determined to bring Brown down and to rescue Susan Lowell, Brown’s emotionally trapped girlfriend. As Diamond digs deeper, he uncovers the mystery of “Alicia,” a woman from Brown’s past whose disappearance holds the key to the case. The investigation leads to torture, corruption, and a violent showdown as Diamond risks everything to expose Brown’s criminal empire.
Main Cast
Cornel Wilde — Lt. Leonard Diamond Richard Conte — Mr. Brown Jean Wallace — Susan Lowell Brian Donlevy — Joe McClure Robert Middleton — Capt. Peterson Lee Van Cleef — Fante Earl Holliman — Mingo Helen Walker — Alicia Brown Jay Adler — Detective Sam Hill John Hoyt — Nils Dreyer Ted de Corsia — Ralph Bettini Helene Stanton — Rita Roy Gordon — Audubon Baynes Barron — Young Detective James McCallion — Frank (Lab Technician) Tony Michaels — Photo Technician Rita Gould — Nurse Bruce Sharpe — Detective Michael Mark — Fred (Hotel Clerk) Donna Drew — Miss Hartleby Brian O’Hara — Attorney Malloy Steve Mitchell — Bennie Smith, Boxer
Key Crew
Director: Joseph H. Lewis Writer: Philip Yordan Producer: Sidney Harmon Executive Producer: Walter Mirisch Cinematography: John Alton Music: David Raksin Editor: Robert S. Eisen Production Design: Rudi Feld Wardrobe: Don Loper Makeup: Larry Butterworth Sound: Earl Snyder Production Companies: Security Pictures, Theodora Productions Distributed by: Allied Artists Pictures Release Date: February 13, 1955 Running Time: 88 minutes Budget: $500,000
Production Notes
The film is in the public domain because its copyright notice was never properly filed; the U.S. Copyright Office ultimately rejected the claim in 2007.
Related Articles & Commentary
• Modern retrospectives highlight John Alton’s high‑contrast cinematography and the film’s influence on later noir style. • Public‑domain film preservation articles frequently discuss the film’s unusual copyright lapse and its importance in noir history.
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