Let's us all be honest for once in our lives. No one says it, but we all know it to be true. Ingrid Bergman isn't all that attractive. At best, she is a 6.5/10 on the babe-scale. At best! Her most famous role was Ilsa in "Casablanca." In it she played a needy dame, quick to use tears to get her way, and a liar to every man in her life. Now take Irene Manning! Major league babe who approaches a 10 on that same babe-scale. Interestingly enough, Humphrey Bogart made a film with both dames in 1942. In the case of Ms. Manning, Bogie was able to suck face with a dame who was actually attractive, in 1942's "The Big Shot," directed by Lewis Seiler. Not a classic, but real men will enjoy it more as it has a greater babe-factor than "Casablanca." While Ms. Bergman gives us frumpy grandmother images...Ms. Manning gives us allure.
Duke (Bogart) is a fiend. He has three stays at the joint totaling 20 years. Upon release, he kind of figures on going straight. Ha! Right! A three-time loser is a...well, soon to be a four-time loser. A criminal gang, headed by lawyer Martin Fleming (Stanley Ridges) wants Duke to join his men in ripping off an armored car. Duke initially agrees. To his surprise, his old flame, the blonde babe Lorna (Manning) has married the slimy attorney. This distresses Duke as the two had a thing, quite a thing, back then. Duke pulls out of the job and the job goes south real fast. No matter, a half-blind witness puts Duke at the robbery attempt and he is arrested. Before that, Duke rekindles romance with Lorna, who is now married to the slimy Martin. Martin finds out about it and insists on defending Duke in the trial. How do you think this will go? Right... Duke is now, officially, a four-time loser.
Here's where it gets interesting. One schmuck tried to help Duke. The naive George (Richard Travis) was going to be Duke's alibi. George is sabotaged and sent up river with Duke. Duke escapes but the escape goes wrong...you'll see. Now Duke wants Lorna back. Though Martin has divorced Lorna, he is bent on revenge. With evil plans for Lorna and Duke, Martin displays more sliminess. Duke gets desperate in wanting true love and freedom. Innocent or not, a three-time loser will always be hounded by the cops, the system, and other slimeballs. Lorna is bent on making it work with Duke. Then, all h**l breaks loose. It is about to get really bad.
The film is beautifully shot on grimy city sets and then in beautiful snowy landscapes. The prison scenes are almost surreal and very politically incorrect for a modern audience...yes! Will Duke get revenge on Martin? Will Lorna please Duke in a way that Ingrid Bergman never could? Who won the often rumored catfight between Irene Manning and Ingrid Bergman on New Year's Eve, 1942? This is a good one, and I implore you, do not let the mainstream media and film industry tell you who the real babes are...decide for yourself and see "The Big Shot."
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