Customer Reviews

The Big Steal

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

RKO Radio Pictures presents "THE BIG STEAL" (1949) (71 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Jane and Duke (alias Capt. Blake) accidently meet in Vera Cruz while chasing flim-flam man Fiske. Soon the local Inspector General (El Gato) is involved. Fiske races across Mexico, pursued by Jane and Duke, trailed by the real Capt. Blake. The crafty Inspector General is waiting for them in Tihuacan but they all give him the slip, just in time for the climactic finale. A well made robbery caper set in Mexico and shot on location, this film is full of terrific plot twists and benefits from a very tight script and pacing.

The Big Steal is noir-on-a-tear, a raggedy little B-feature built for speed with everyone going along for the ride --- No wonder. Screenwriter Holmes/ Mainwaring gifts Mitchum and Greer with as much keen, noir-induced dialogue and as many slippery story twists as you could hope for --- A thoroughly high-spirited effort but shouldn't be dismissed as just a breezy comedy-suspenser and a no-account noir because of it --- While contrived humor can be poisonous to film noir, that`s not `The Big Steal's problem because Seigel avoids it.

The Big Steal is so good and is not to be overlooked --- It's a great piece of entertainment and also features a very good performance by William Bendix --- Not in the same league with "Out Of The Past", just enjoy "The Big Steal" for what it is, a thriller that is a great ride and fun film.

Under the production staff of:
Don Siegel [Director]
Daniel Mainwaring [Screenplay] (as Geoffrey Homes)
Gerald Drayson Adams [Screenplay]
Richard Wormser [story "The Road to Carmichael's"]
Jack J. Gross [Producer]
Sid Rogell [Executive Producer]
Leigh Harline [Original Music]
Harry J. Wild [Cinematographer]
Samuel E. Beetley [Film Editor]

BIOS:
1. Don Siegel [Director]
Date of Birth: 26 October 1912 - Chicago, Illinois
Date of Death: 20 April 1991 - Nipomo, California

2. Robert Mitchum
Date of Birth: 6 August 1917 - Bridgeport, Connecticut
Date of Death: 1 July 1997 - Santa Barbara, California

3. Jane Greer
Date of Birth: 9 September 1924 - Washington, District of Columbia
Date of Death: 24 August 2001 - Los Angeles, California

4. William Bendix
Date of Birth: 14 January 1906 - New York, New York
Date of Death: 14 December 1964 - Los Angeles, California

the cast includes:
Robert Mitchum - Lt. Duke Halliday
Jane Greer - Joan Graham
William Bendix - Capt. Vincent Blake
Patric Knowles - Jim Fiske
Ramon Novarro - Inspector General Ortega
Don Alvarado - Lt. Ruiz
John Qualen - Julius Seton
Pascual García Peña - Manuel (as Pascual Garcia Pena)

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 71 min on DVD ~ RKO Radio Pictures ~ (05/08/2009)

I totally agree with Wally, this is a great film, fortunately; I did get this on tape recently in the 2 hour speed and the copy is pristine. It is a welcome addition to my collection until someone at the studio "pulls their head out" and puts this on DVD.

If you liked "Out Of The Past," you'll love "The Big Steal"

It's a better movie. Funny, interesting, and Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer are fabulous together.

William Bendix is the bad guy, who gets frustrated at every turn, trying to catch our two lovers down in Mexico.

They outfox him time after time, and he shows his total frustration and hostility.

But if you want to be thoroughly entertained, and like to watch something that makes you feel like it was well worth your while, get this one.

I put this on, not expecting much, but was immediately swept into the story by the mocking admiration that Mitchum and Greer immediately display. They are electrifying together and, though this is kind of a comedy film noire, they are truly believable. I loved watching them as the caper got more and more complicated. In classic noire mode, what you think in the beginning is completely transformed by the end.

There are many things that make this special. I particularly liked the intelligent mexican cop, who decided to let the big boys fight amongst themselves on behalf of his own unknown agenda. He is learning english and makes hilarious mistakes, all the time charming the murderous protagonists in a game of cat and mouse. The location also makes it very fun, in Mexico where the gruff Mitchum must struggle to communicate while the amused Greer looks on in comical superiority.

Warmly recommended. This is one of the best film noirs I have yet seen.

It's a shame that this fun gem of a movie pairing Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer (Out of the Past) is still NOT available on DVD!!!

I can't believe that with Fox and other studios releasing their film noir classics from the 1940'S/early '50's, that RKO and it's parent company have not found a way to release this gem "The Big Steal." I've only seen it on AMC and missed the rare (very early) morning airings on TCM. For my money, it's much more interesting than "Out of the Past", which also stars Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer, along with Kirk Douglas, with travels to Mexcio and the relationship between Mitchum and Greer's characters. I'm giving it 5 stars for the tv airing and hoping that an eventual DVD copy will not be a "Big Steal" for some distibutor, but excellent.