The Big Knife (1955)

Second viewing; first viewed on February 7, 1998

A Hollywood actor is facing a matrimonial crisis. The crux of the matter is his wife's opposition to the renewal of his contract with a producer. He can't get away from it without facing some dire consequences, though.

The review by Bosley Crowther, while it gives a good idea of the movie, is perhaps a little short-sighted (or narrow-minded) about it (the same probably goes for Pauline Kael, who called it "garish and overdone"). It all pivots on the question of whether the flaws pointed at were intentional or not, whether they were funny or not, and whether it matters whether this comicity is intentional or not. I am not able to settle this matter, but surely enjoyed the movie more than Crowther did. The obviously stupendous performances are Palance's and Winters'; on Steiger's hangs a similar doubt as I have about the movie.

Rating: 67 (unchanged)