| ASPHALT JUNGLE, THE
John Huston, 1950
Our rating: 4.5
Sam Jaffe, Sterling Hayden, Anthony Caruso and James Whitmore
Adapted by director John Huston and co-screenwriter Ben Maddow from the novel by W.R. Burnett, this classic, often copied but never equaled, focuses on the robbery of a swank jewelry firm, meticulously planned by master criminal "Doc" Erwin Riedenschneider (Sam
Jaffe) while imprisoned. Alonzo D. Emmerich (Louis Calhern) is a sleazy lawyer who'll fence the stolen jewels, giving "Doc" and his cohorts $1 million for their labors. The assembled gang includes Dix Handley (Sterling Hayden), a somewhat dumb but standup fellow who has dreams of buying back his
father's Kentucky horse ranch; Gus Ninissi (James Whitmore), a tough-as-nails, cat-loving hunchback who runs a diner; and Louis Ciavelli (Anthony Caruso), a professional thief who's enlisted to blow the safe under Riedenschneider's supervision. After carefully drilling the gang members, "Doc" leads
the men on the robbery attempt. The safe is blown and the gems secured, but his "perfect" crime immediately unravels. Huston directed this superb production with tremendous assurance, developing his characters incisively but not at the expense of the rapidly developing plot. Indeed, THE ASPHALT
JUNGLE boasts a rogues' gallery of definitive portrayals, led by creepy mastermind Jaffe, whose voyeuristic pursuit of Lolitas finally frames him. Calhern figures nicely as the crooked lawyer who keeps Monroe, in an outstanding cameo that foretold her future stardom. Jean Hagen's moll is a rare
lead female performance, poignant and subtly shaded, that is totally devoid of studio-era vanity. Rosson's moody photography and Rozsa's moving score further enhance this film noir masterpiece. Tell us what you think!
Academy Award Nomination: Best Supporting Actor - Sam Jaffe
Academy Award Nomination: Best Director - John Huston
Academy Award Nomination: Best Screenplay - Ben Maddow, John Huston
Academy Award Nomination: Best B/W Cinematography - Harold Rosson
- Country of origin:
- U.S.
- Genre:
- Crime
- Color or b/w:
- Black & white
- Production Co(s).:
- MGM
- Released by:
- MGM
- MPAA rating:
- NR
- Parental rating:
- Cautionary; some scenes objectionable
- Running time:
- 112
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