THE BIG COMBO (1955)
The Big Combo (1955) coming to 4K Steelbook, standard 4K, and Blu-ray in the US from Ignite Films on March 20th!
A cornerstone of American film noir. Restored like never before.
Bonus film in every edition! The restored noir classic The Crooked Way (1949).
Ignite Films proudly presents The Big Combo (1955) in an extensive 70th Anniversary 4K Restoration. One of the most visually daring noirs ever made, the film showcases Joseph H. Lewis’s bold direction and John Alton’s iconic cinematography with unprecedented clarity.
Every edition includes newly produced bonus features, legacy archival material, a specially curated booklet, lobby cards, plus the restored noir classic The Crooked Way (1949).
AVAILABLE IN 4 EDITIONS
• Premium Steel Case – New Artwork (Limited Edition, with slipcover )
Premium Steel Case featuring exclusive newly commissioned artwork. Includes a 3-disc set (UHD + 2 Blu-rays), a specially curated booklet, 5 lobby cards, and the complete bonus feature collection.
UHD Disc: The Big Combo + all newly produced extras
Blu-ray Disc 1: The Big Combo + all newly produced extras
Blu-ray Disc 2: Legacy extras + The Crooked Way
• Premium Vintage Steel Case – Original Poster (Limited Edition, with slipcover)
Premium Vintage Steel Case featuring original poster artwork. Includes a 3-disc set (UHD + 2 Blu-rays), a specially curated booklet, 5 lobby cards, and the complete bonus feature collection.
UHD Disc: The Big Combo + all newly produced extras
Blu-ray Disc 1: The Big Combo + all newly produced extras
Blu-ray Disc 2: Legacy extras + The Crooked Way
• 4K UHD Standard Edition (Reversible Artwork, with Slipcover)
A 2-disc UHD + Blu-ray set presenting the complete 4K restoration, newly produced bonus features, and a specially curated booklet.
UHD Disc: The Big Combo + all newly produced extras
Blu-ray Disc: Legacy extras + The Crooked Way
• Blu-ray Standard Edition (Reversible Artwork, with Slipcover)
A 2-disc HD Blu-ray set presenting the complete restoration, a specially curated booklet, 5 lobby cards, and the complete bonus feature collection.
Blu-ray Disc 1: The Big Combo + all newly produced extras
Blu-ray Disc 2: Legacy extras + The Crooked Way
Languages: German, Latin Spanish
Subtitles: English, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian, French, Dutch, Portuguese
Region: All discs region free (UHD + Blu-rays)
Restoration:
This digital restoration of The Big Combo was undertaken by Ignite Films, working from a 35mm Fine Grain Answer Print and a 35mm Optical Sound Negative. The picture was restored in 4K by The Grainery, while the audio was sourced from an UCLA restoration funded by The Film Foundation. The color grading was carried out by Gosia Grzyb under the supervision and approval of Scott MacQueen.
Newly Produced Bonus Features:
- New Audio Commentary with acclaimed film historian and noir expert Imogen Sara Smith.
- New Interview with celebrated author and critic Philippe Garnier.
- How a Man Makes a Living — How a Little Combo Made The Big Combo: New video essay by Scout Tafoya.
- The Crooked Way (1949) – Another classic gritty gangster noir with spectacular expressionistic cinematography by John Alton with unfiltered filming on the 1940s post-war streets of Los Angeles.
Legacy Bonus Features:
- Audio Commentary with Eddie Muller, the “Czar of Noir” and founder of the Film Noir Foundation.
- Geoff Andrew, respected critic and curator, on The Big Combo.
- Wagon Wheel Joe: A fascinating video appreciation of Lewis’s dynamic camerawork and recurring motifs, tracing his evolution from B-movie craftsman to master stylist.
Booklet:
- Art in a Boiling Pot: New written introduction by Eddie Muller.
- Commissioned essays by Ben Sachs, Alonso Duralde, Katie Stebbins, Scout Tafoya, and Garrett Clayton.
