The film noir genre is inherently dark, but *The Big Heat*, a 1953 film directed by Fritz Lang, takes this darkness to another level, resulting in one of the classics of the genre. The film is based on the eponymous novel by William P. McGivern, inspired by his first-hand experiences as a crime reporter in Philadelphia (renamed as the fictional “Kenport” in the film). The plot begins with the suicide of a corrupt po…More