The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

Ben Maddow (screenplay) and
John Huston (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 May 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Drama

Tagline:

The City Under the City

Plot:

A major heist goes off as planned, until bad luck and double crosses cause everything to unravel.

Plot Keywords:

Planning | Heist | Double Cross | Safecracker | Release From Prison

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Sterling Hayden	...	Dix Handley
Louis Calhern	...	Alonzo D. Emmerich
Jean Hagen	...	Doll Conovan
James Whitmore	...	Gus Minissi
Sam Jaffe	...	Doc Erwin Riedenschneider
John McIntire	...	Police Commissioner Hardy
Marc Lawrence	...	Cobby
Barry Kelley	...	Lt. Ditrich
Anthony Caruso	...	Louis Ciavelli
Teresa Celli	...	Maria Ciavelli
Marilyn Monroe	...	Angela Phinlay
William 'Wee Willie' Davis	...	Timmons (as William Davis)
Dorothy Tree	...	May Emmerich
Brad Dexter	...	Bob Brannom
John Maxwell	...	Dr. Swanson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ray Bennett	...	Detective in Hardy's office (uncredited)
Benny Burt	...	Taxi driver (uncredited)
Frank Cady	...	Night clerk (uncredited)
Jean Carter	...	Woman (uncredited)
David Clarke	...	Mr. Atkinson, railroad man (uncredited)
John Cliff	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Henry Corden	...	Karl Anton Smith (uncredited)
Chuck Courtney	...	Red, boy in diner (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Gene Evans	...	Policeman at Ciavalli's apartment (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Alex Gerry	...	Maxwell (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Fred Graham	...	Truck driver (uncredited)
William Haade	...	Bill, cop (uncredited)
Don Haggerty	...	Det. Andrews (uncredited)
Eloise Hardt	...	Vivian (uncredited)
Thomas Browne Henry	...	James X. Connery (uncredited)
George Lynn	...	Detective at Ciavelli's apartment (uncredited)
Fred Marlow	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Strother Martin	...	William Doldy, second man in lineup (uncredited)
Patricia Miller	...	Girl (uncredited)
Howard M. Mitchell	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Alberto Morin	...	Eddie Donato, grocer (uncredited)
Kerry O'Day	...	Girl (uncredited)
Raymond Roe	...	Tallboy (uncredited)
Henry Rowland	...	Frank Schurz, taxi driver (uncredited)
Tim Ryan	...	Jack, police clerk (uncredited)
James Seay	...	Officer Janocek (uncredited)
Jack Shea	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Joseph Darr Smith	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Helene Stanley	...	Jeannie, girl in diner (uncredited)
Ray Teal	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Leah Wakefield	...	Girl (uncredited)
Jack Warden	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
William Washington	...	Suspect (uncredited)
Constance Weiler	...	Woman (uncredited)
Judith Wood	...	Woman (uncredited)
Victor Wood	...	Evans (uncredited)
Wilson Wood	...	Man (uncredited)
Jeff York	...	Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
John Huston

Writing credits
Ben Maddow		(screenplay) and
John Huston		(screenplay)
W.R. Burnett		(novel)

Produced by
Arthur Hornblow Jr.	....	producer

Original Music by
Miklós Rózsa		(as Miklos Rozsa)

Cinematography by
Harold Rosson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George Boemler

Art Direction by
Randall Duell
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Makeup Department
Jack Dawn	....	makeup designer
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist
Lou LaCava	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Elaine Ramsey	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lee Katz	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Greenwood	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack D. Moore	....	associate set decorator

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording supervisor
Robert B. Lee	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Martin	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Andrew J. McIntyre	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Eugene Zador	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
John Banse	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Leslie H. Martinson	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (as Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1963) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Silver Screen (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Hungary:14 | Canada:PG (video rating) | Sweden:15 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1950) | USA:Approved (PCA #14357) | West Germany:16 | UK:PG (re-rating) (1992) | UK:A (original rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

John Huston originally intended the role of Angela Phinlay for Lola Albright.

Goofs:

Continuity: Louis Ciavelli walks along a long straight underground passageway and breaks through the wall on his right into an office. Once in the office, he opens a door in the same wall right beside the hole he's just made. So from inside the office, there's a door in the wall leading to some stairs. From the other side of the wall it's just a solid wall.

Quotes:

Doc Riedenschneider: That copper, he recognized me.
Cobby: How'd you know he was a copper?
Doc Riedenschneider: I can smell one a block off.
Cobby: Oh, don't worry about Ditrich. He's on my payroll. Practically a partner. Me and him, we're like that.
[Cobby holds up his index and middle finger]
Doc Riedenschneider: Experience has taught me never to trust a policeman. Just when you think one's all right, he turns legit.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Best of Film Noir (1999) (V)

John Huston defines the caper.

John Huston, one of the great film makers of all times, was at the top of his craft when he undertook the direction of "The Asphalt Jungle". The book by W.R. Barnett was brilliantly adapted by Mr. Huston and Ben Maddox and the result stunned everyone. In fact, the film has been so influential one sees parts of it in other movies of the genre. The magnificent cinematography created by Harold Rosson speaks by itself. The music score by Miklos Rozsa stays in the background and never interferes with the action.

This is a film that looks as good today, as when it first was released. In fact, one discovers more nuances as one watches it again, when it's shown on cable. The cast of the film is one of its best assets going for "The Asphalt Jungle". Mr. Huston assembled some of the best talent working in the American cinema of that time.

Sterling Hayden, as Dix, gives a tremendous performance. The excellent Louis Calhern, though, steals the picture with his take on Lon Emmerich, the man who finds he is broke and wants to be at the center of the caper, without risking anything. Marilyn Monroe has only two scenes in the movie, but she shines in them. Also Jean Hagen, an actress that should have gone far, but didn't, makes a valuable contribution with her Doll Conovan.

The supporting cast is amazing. James Whitmore, Sam Jaffe, Anthony Caruso, Brad Dexter, and the rest, play well together to give the film a seamless look.

"The Asphalt Jungle" shows why John Huston was one of the most influential men in pictures. His films are a must see for all movie lovers and studied by his successors and people working today owe a lot to this master, who pioneered a style that stands as his legacy.