Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- propulsive
- tense
- classic noir night
- crime movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a taut, briskly entertaining noir driven by rapid chases, sparkling dialogue, and frequent twists.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The 71-minute runtime is organized around Fiske's flight from Vera Cruz toward Tihuacan and the successive pursuit of Jane, Duke, and the real Captain Blake.
Duke travels under the alias Captain Blake while the real Captain Blake trails him, creating the film's central uncertainty.
Joan is portrayed as fast-talking and quick-thinking alongside Mitchum's Duke, with their alliance shaped by rapid dialogue and shared pursuit.
The action travels from Vera Cruz through Mexico to Tihuacan as the competing pursuers chase Fiske and evade Inspector General Ortega.
Films like The Big Steal, and why
Out of the Past
shared film noir atmosphere, crime pursuit, cynical dialogue, and morally ambiguous characters
His Kind of Woman
shared postwar noir style, compact pacing, criminal deception, and romantic tension
The Narrow Margin
shared fast-moving crime plot, fugitive pursuit, witty exchanges, and shadowy atmosphere
The Hitch-Hiker
shared Mexican setting, noir intrigue, shifting loyalties, and relentless chase structure
Movie Details
- Director
- Don Siegel
- Release Date
- 1949-07-01
- Runtime
- 71 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (108)
Cast
- Robert Mitchum
- Jane Greer
- William Bendix
- Patric Knowles
- Ramon Novarro
- Don Alvarado
- John Qualen
- Pascual García Peña
- Frank Hagney
- Arturo Soto Rangel
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Big Steal about?
- A fast-talking Mexican chase noir sends a resourceful pair and a mistaken-identity fugitive after a slippery payroll thief.
- What is The Big Steal like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Big Steal as breakneck, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Big Steal violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Big Steal as mild.
- What did critics think of The Big Steal?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a taut, briskly entertaining noir driven by rapid chases, sparkling dialogue, and frequent twists.
- Which films are like The Big Steal?
- Films with a similar feel include Out of the Past, His Kind of Woman, The Narrow Margin, and The Hitch-Hiker.
- How long is The Big Steal?
- The Big Steal runs 71 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Big Steal?
- In United States, The Big Steal is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
