The Big Combo

The Big Combo

The Most Startling Story The Screen Has Ever Dared Reveal!

Directed by Joseph H. Lewis

Produced by Security Pictures, Theodora Productions

195588 min7.0 / 10

A classic film noir about obsession and corruption, where a detective's pursuit of a gangster becomes entangled with his fixation on the criminal's girlfriend.

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.

Questions people ask

  • Is The Big Combo scary? Yes. More frightening than 87% of films.

  • Is The Big Combo sad? Yes. More sad than 75% of films.

  • Is The Big Combo violent? Somewhat. More violent than 72% of films.

  • Does The Big Combo end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 70% of films.

  • Is The Big Combo easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 61% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

61/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity50

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise64

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love70

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Big Combo

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Big Combo

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Big Combo, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Big Combo, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Big Combo, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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