The Big Knife (1955) ***1/2

Robert Aldrich's The Big Knife (1955) is a super soapy, massively melodramatic, noir-tinged indictment of Hollywood. The influence of the stage play by Clifford Odets on which the film is based is obvious in the staging of the shots, the largely single location, and the movement of the actors. The performances by Jack Palance, Ida Lupino, Rod Steiger, and Shelley Winters are all outstanding—provided the over-the-top quality doesn't ruffle your feathers. The Big Knife is a dark drama that doesn't let the viewer off easy, in the tradition of the best noirs.

You can find my Robert Aldrich Feature Films Ranked list here.

You can find my Film Noir Feature Films Ranked list here.