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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1950s
    Movies - 1950s Movies - A 2 Mins Read

    Asphalt Jungle, The (1950)

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    Thanks to its emphasis on character, this film noir about an old crook fresh out of jail who brings a gang of criminals together for one last crime spawned a host of imitations, including The Ladykillers (1955), Ocean’s Eleven (1960) and Reservoir Dogs (1992).

    Doc Riedenschneider (Sam Jaffe), a criminal mastermind, is just out of prison and has a brilliant plan for a million-dollar jewellery heist.

    He recruits Louis (Anthony Caruso) as a safecracker, Gus (James Whitmore) as the driver, and Dix (Sterling Hayden) as a strong-arm man to help with the raid.

    Initially, the plan runs like clockwork, but each member of the gang proves to have his own fatal flaw and each contributes to his own downfall.

    Unlike many of the movies which drew inspiration from The Asphalt Jungle, this film is less concerned with the cunning plan or brilliant heist. Instead explores deception, relationships and human weakness.

    Louis Calhern starred as the crooked lawyer who double-crosses the gang and Hayden played the prototypical criminal loner to perfection. Outstanding performances were also given by Jean Hagen and Jaffe, while starlet Marilyn Monroe – in her big break – was notably sexy with a bit role as Calhern’s bimbo mistress.

    Despite being largely unknown, the cast was no less talented for it. Most had wide experience in supporting roles and each showed a deft touch in revealing his or her character’s taints.

    Harold Rosson received an Oscar nomination for his cinematography. John Huston – here at the top of his game – was nominated not only for direction but for the clever screenplay which he wrote with Ben Maddow.

    Dix Handley
    Sterling Hayden
    Alonzo D. Emmerich
    Louis Calhern
    Doll Conovan
    Jean Hagen
    Gus Minissi
    James Whitmore
    Doc Erwin Riedenschneider
    Sam Jaffe
    Police Commissioner Hardy
    John McIntire
    Angela Phinlay
    Marilyn Monroe
    Cobby
    Marc Lawrence
    Lt. Ditrich
    Barry Kelley
    Louis Ciavelli
    Anthony Caruso
    Maria Ciavelli
    Teresa Celli
    Timmons 
    William Davis William
    May Emmerich
    Dorothy Tree
    Bob Brannom
    Brad Dexter
    Dr Swanson
    John Maxwell

    Director
    John Huston

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