The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
- Starring:
- Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, (more)
- Director(s):
- John Huston
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of The Asphalt Jungle
The Asphalt Jungle is a brilliantly conceived and executed anatomy of a crime -- or, as director John Huston and scripter Ben Maddow put it, "a left-handed form of human endeavor." Recently paroled master criminal Erwin "Doc" Riedenschneider (Sam Jaffe), with funding from crooked attorney Emmerich (Louis Calhern), gathers several crooks together in Cincinnati for a Big Caper. Among those involved are Dix (Sterling Hayden), an impoverished hood who sees the upcoming jewel heist as a means to finance his dream of owning a horse farm. Hunch-backed cafe owner (James Whitmore) is hired on to be the driver for the heist; professional safecracker Louis Ciavelli (Anthony Caruso) assembles the tools of his trade; and a bookie (Marc Lawrence) acts as Emmerich's go-between. The robbery is pulled off successfully, but an alert night watchman shoots Ciavelli. Corrupt cop (Barry Kelley), angry that his "patsy" (Lawrence) didn't let him in on the caper, beats the bookie into confessing and fingering the other criminals involved. From this point on, the meticulously planned crime falls apart with the inevitability of a Greek tragedy. Way down on the cast list is Marilyn Monroe in her star-making bit as Emmerich's sexy "niece"; whenever The Asphalt Jungle would be reissued, Monroe would figure prominently in the print ads as one of the stars. The Asphalt Jungle was based on a novel by the prolific W.R. Burnett, who also wrote Little Caesar and Saint Johnson (the fictionalized life story of Wyatt Earp). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 112 mins
Complete Cast of The Asphalt Jungle
- Sterling Hayden - Dix Handley
- James Whitmore - Gus Ninissi
- Sam Jaffe - Doc Erwin Riedenschneider
- John McIntire - Police Commissioner Hardy
- Barry Kelley - Lt. Ditrich
- Teresa Celli - Maria Ciavelli
- Dorothy Tree - May Emmerich
- John Maxwell - Dr. Swanson
- Ray Teal - Policeman
- Judith Wood - Woman
- Patricia Miller - Girl
- Bill Washington - Suspect
- John Cliff - Policeman
- Raymond Roe - Tallboy
- Eloise Hardt - Vivian
- Ralph Dunn - Policeman
- James Seay - Officer Janocek
- Joseph Darr Smith - Reporter
- Helene Stanley - Jeannie
- Tom Browne Henry - James X. Connery
- Tim Ryan - Jack; Police Clerk
- Henry Corden - William Doldy
- Louis Calhern - Alonzo D. Emmerich
- Jean Hagen - Doll Conovan
- Marilyn Monroe - Angela Phinlay
- Marc Lawrence - Cobby
- Anthony Caruso - Louis Ciavelli
- Wee Willie Davis - Timmons
- Brad Dexter - Bob Brannen
- Strother Martin - Karl Anton Smith
- Pat Flaherty - Policeman
- Alberto Morin - Eddie Donato
- Henry Rowland - Franz Schurz
- Wilson Wood - Man
- Howard Mitchell - Secretary
- Kerry O'Day - Girl
- Sol (Saul) Gorss - Policeman
- Jack Shea - Policeman
- Frank Cady - Night Clerk
- Don Haggerty - Detective Andrews
- Alex Gerry - Maxwell
- Benny Burt - Driver
- Fred Graham - Truck Driver
- Director(s):
- John Huston
- Writer(s):
- John Huston, Ben Maddow
- Producer(s):
- Arthur Hornblow, Jr.
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children)
- 1950 - Edgar Allan Poe Awards - Best Screenplay
- 1950 - National Board of Review - Best Director
- 1950 - Venice International Film Festival - International Prize for Best Actor
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