John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
If this were being judged on the destruction of personal property, Brothers would win….
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 1 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 0
Voting for Landis here because I want to dress and act just as cool as those crazy Blues Brothers. Yes, the silliness sometimes wears a bit thin and not all the zaniness works, but – hey – this film is a good send-up and fitting tribute to the blues – and the city of Chicago blues legacy. Ackroyd and Belushi at their best.
I thought I must have seen The Big Heat (not to be mistaken for the superior The Big Sleep – I am sure the title resemblance was intentional) at some point, as I have seen many of Glenn Ford’s films from this period, but when reading the storyline, realized I hadn’t. Caught this, then, on the YouTube streaming link to vote in this match. The story of the honest cop fighting against corruption in his own department and city has been done many times. This film follows the conventions faithfully, but without a lot of style or anything to set it apart. Ford is OK, but, for me, the film didn’t really get humming until Gloria Grahame and Lee Marvin turned-up and revved up the dialogue and action. Gloria is the bad girl with a good heart and Marvin is the scumbag who deserves every steaming cup of coffee in the face he gets. The film is conventional throughout, however, showing Lang as a competent studio hack at this point in his career, but not showing us the brilliance of his earlier German period (where he was unmatched). Not his fault – just a sign of the times. I am not one of those that think Lang’s Hollywood films in any way are on the same level as his German period – sadly.
I’m singin’ the blues on this one…
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
The Big Heat is one of my all time favourites. I was pleasantly surprised by how good The Blues Brothers was, though.
The Blues Brothers – The Big Heat
The Big Heat is great, but Blues Brothers is a staple of my childhood. I’m also interested to see where Landis goes.
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) 1 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) 0
I like both of these films, but Jake and Elwood’s dancing gets my vote anytime.
And I like Rawhide too…
In fact, this film has so many great moments that it’s hard to remember them all.
If Landis be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of him, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
O, it came o’er my ear like the sweet sound,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour!
That being said I’m still voting for The Big Heat…
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
…sorry House of Leaves you picked an amazingly entertaining film but I’m a sucker for noirs, especially one so darkly entrancing as this one.
Difficult, really, but I’m in a joyful mood,
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 1 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 0
The Blues Brothers (Landis) – 0 // The Big Heat (Lang) – 1
So much of The Big Heat comes down to one brief image for me: it occurs just after Vince Stone (I’m a big Lee Marvin fan and here he reminded me a lot of Donald Sutherland in 1900 in both his cowardice and pitch-black amorality) shoots Debby down. For one second, wreathed in shadows, he doubles over, clutching at his face. Is it a momentary upwelling of typically well-buried emotion? An eruption of frustration as his thoughts catch up with his passions? Or just the pain-stricken gesture of a wounded, hunted, terrified animal? It should be obvious, but the shadows tell their own story.
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) (1)
The Blues Brothers & me go way back to the sandbox but I just love The Big Heat…
the film snob trumps the nostalgic fun loving child in me this time…
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) 0 Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) 1
@ Malkin
That’s why we chose that image to be the still on the film’s page. :-)
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) 0 – Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) 1
Wow, so you did! Good call! ;)
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
Nice to see a young Lee Marvin in action. I didn’t realise his lips were so big!
Well, I know what the better film is, “Film” but is match is already in the bag and the Blues Bros is just fun and crazy and sometimes we need some soul in our lives.
The Blues Brothers 1, The Big Heat 0
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
i’m not too excited about either of these..
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
When I was younger I loved The Blues Brothers. Now I’m not so keen on the film, but it is pretty good. I dunno, I kinda wish the film was a bit shorter and the tone was a bit more consistent, but I still find it quite fun and enjoy the music.
The Big Heat was rather great :) So many film noirs have corrupt police and dark underworlds of crime, but this is one of those films that can actually make that stuff seem like a genuine threat rather than just another plot element. It’s really damn dark, has a nasty streak to it and is a gripping piece of filmmaking. I thought some of the family dynamics stuff was a bit clunky, but that’s my only real complaint.
Weaving Wave says:
John Landis (The Blues Brothers) – 0 vs Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
John Landis (Blues Brothers) – 0 vs. Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) – 1
VOTING IS CLOSED
I should really learn not to talk to nuns that way.
Thanks to everyone who voted, and I’m glad a lot of you enjoyed Blues Brothers.
Congrats to Lang—much deserved win.
Thank you for everyone who voted! (And a special thanks to all the members of Illinois’ law enforcement community who joined us here to tonight). The Blues Brothers is one of my all-time favorites, and it would have made for a tortuous decision for me if not for the fact that I’m thankfully ineligible to vote in this round. Thank you for playing it, House, and I look forward to seeing what Landis has in store for Round 3!
Landis is now rooting for Carne.
I’m not wearing any pants. Film at 11.
Still, The Sons of Lee Marvin insist I vote this way.
Are you in that little club?
for a final count, I see 33-13 Lang
(I believe it was 19-8 at the top of the page, not counting prestidigitator’s vote)
House of Leaves
20—8 Lang
“Chicken wire?”