Review of The Big Knife (1955) by Martin T — 06 May 2010
This movie starts off with a lot of promise: a dynamite, evocative Saul Bass credit sequence and a terrific cast of Jack Palance, Ida Lupino, Rod Steiger, Shelley Winters, Everett Sloane and Wendell Corey.
Unfortunately, it doesn't really make good on that promise until the third act. The rest of it is a lot of stage-bound (98% of the movie takes place in one room) exposition and overblown melodrama.
Although a scathing indictment of the film industry, it missteps in trying to get us to care too much about an actor's career. The script, based on an Odets play, has some excellent lines, though, and the performances are all pretty good.
It would just be much better if the first hour or so were greatly condensed.
This review of The Big Knife (1955) was written by Martin T on 06 May 2010.
The Big Knife has generally received positive reviews.
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