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 lefthanded form of human endeavor. Media in category the asphalt jungle film the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Filming the asphalt jungle, 1949 kentucky photo archive. The asphalt jungle s setting is urban, but its scenes are mostly interiors, airless rooms accessed by way of airless corridors and stairways.
Whereas kubricks film is interested in all the steps of the heist and its eventual unraveling, huston makes the asphalt jungle a much more fatalistic and moralistic tale. Good location work,nice ensemble playingsam jaffe is a standout as the criminal mastermindand spot marilyn monroe in her first major role. Boasting one of the genres great ensemble castssterling hayden, jean hagen, louis calhern, anthony caruso, brad dexter, marc lawrenceand a sly, sexy turn that put marilyn monroe on the map. Doc erwin riedenschneider has just been released from prison and immediately seeks out financial backing for a heist which he has been plotting, the robbery of a jewellery store. The asphalt jungle the city under the city see more filming locations. The asphalt jungle and baby driver were made 67 years apart, but theyre both heist films where the main character wants to escape the city and a life of crime. After many years in prison, doc sam jaffe, a seemingly overthehill and retired i. Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. The asphalt jungle is a 1950 film noir and heist film directed by john huston. It was the first major example of this trope while simultaneously being a deconstruction of it. Born today most popular celebs most popular celebs celebrity news. This film came out in 1950, when going to cuba was not a bad idea. The opening shots of the asphalt jungle were filmed in cincinnati, although the city in which the film takes place is never identified. Considered by many as the greatest crime film ever produced, it was nominated for four oscars, including best director and screenplay.
The asphalt jungle the city under the city see more. The asphalt jungle 1950 is a naturalistic film noir crime film classic resembling numerous bfilms of the early 1950s from alist director john huston. Unique in that it was one of the first films to tell a crime story from the point of view of the criminals, the asphalt jungle laid the foundation for every heist. Asphalt jungle, the film by huston 1950 britannica. The heist film finds its genesis in john hustons the asphalt jungle, a topnotch and unglamorous depiction of criminal life in the city. The asphalt jungle from left to right louis calhern, sterling hayden, jean hagen, and sam jaffe in a. In casting the killing, kubrick picked actors who impressed him from the noirs he liked, prompting him to bring back sterling hayden, who is the central protagonist in the asphalt jungle, for his own film. The film does not specify where the story takes place except that its a city in the midwest. The working mans heist in the asphalt jungle popmatters. The little we see of the unnamed midwestern city where the film takes place was filmed in cincinnati, but after the opening sequence, where we follow dix as he evades a prowl car in the earlymorning. The asphalt jungle is the greatest, most influential heist movie, and has. The asphalt jungle is a fantastic filmnoir by the legendary director john huston and with magnificent performances. The asphalt jungle 1950 is commonly considered the original heist film. The realistic, documentarylike, urban crimeheist film advertised as a john huston production was one of the first films that completely.
Burnetts novel about an ambitious jewel robbery orchestrated by a. Burnett, it tells the story of a jewel robbery in a midwestern city. An uncommonly naturalistic view of a seamy underworld, the asphalt jungle painstakingly depicts the calm professionalism and toughness of its gangster heroes while evincing a remarkable depth of compassion for their alltoohuman fragility, and it showcases a master filmmaker at. One of the greatest noir classics released in 1950 with stellar performances from sterling hayden, louis calhern, jean hagen, sam jaffe, and a young marilyn monroe. It was from this mean little film that the fundamental tenants of the.
Movie director john huston talked to actress jean hagen during the filming of the final scene of the asphalt jungle in 1949. The asphalt jungle was a 1950 film noir based on the 1949 novel of the same name by w. The asphalt jungle 1950 movies, tv, celebs, and more. The dark urban world of the asphalt jungle is one of the essential destinations in film noir, but be warned. The asphalt jungle 1950 helene stanley as jeannie girl in diner.
The asphalt jungle is a brilliantly conceived and executed anatomy of a. Ironic realism is striven for and achieved in the writing, production and direction. One of the asphalt jungles strengths is that the crims seem about as thick as you suspect they would be in real life. Asphalt jungle an early masterclass in the art of the caper movie, john hustons 1950 thriller stands up wonderfully well, even if weve got used. The asphalt jungle criterion collection, dvd, full frame, special edition, restored, 2 pack, suspense film noir, 715515190718. Doc, the criminal mastermind, has a different idea of home. Its also considered a classic of the film noir genre with an ensemble cast. The asphalt jungle is a brilliantly conceived and executed anatomy of a crime or, as director john huston and scripter ben maddow put. The headlines of a manhunt compel gunman dix and doc, the only atlarge criminals, to leave donatos. John huston directed this superbly calibrated crime classic, which displays his usual wry appreciation of fringies and downandouters. Directed by john huston, the asphalt jungle is considered by many to be the defining film of the crime oeuvre. Since its release, it has been remade three times and its. The film also starred sterling hayden, and parts of it were filmed on the ben eubank farm on briar hill road in lexington.
The asphalt jungle 1950 official trailer marilyn monroe, sterling hayden movie hd a major heist goes off as planned, until bad luck and double crosses cause. One of the asphalt jungle s strengths is that the crims seem about as thick as you suspect they would be in real life. Instead of the cramped, claustrophobic settings of the maltese falcon and key largo, huston adopts an open and uncluttered style of framing the narrative. The asphalt jungle opens with a lowangle shot of the john a. The films crucial line is spoken by the suave lawyer louis calhern. The asphalt jungle is a different kind of film noir from john huston, director of the maltese falcon 1941 and key largo 1948, two key entries from the heyday of the classic noir period. Regarded as one of the greatest crime dramas ever filmed, this tense thriller tells the tale of a crew of professional crooks planning the perfect caper. I see parallels with baby driver 2017, which also makes my alltime favorite movie list. Burnetts novel about an ambitious jewel robbery orchestrated by a gang of eccentric criminals. The camera pans slowly right to reveal cincinnati s.
The asphalt jungle 1950 letterboxd your life in film. The film stars sterling hayden, louis calhern and jean hagen, and features james whitmore, sam jaffe, and john mcintire. The asphalt jungle is a 1950 caper crime drama directed by john huston, based on the novel of the same name by w. Eddie muller on the asphalt jungle 24m 10s allows film noir historian eddie muller, decked out in movie wiseguy garb, to make his case for the asphalt jungle as the starting point of a new genre. The asphalt jungle 1950 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The articles intro describes the asphalt jungle as one of the first of the caper films, but i dont think thats true. Maddow, ben, and john huston, the asphalt jungle, carbondale, illinois, 1980.
Asphalt jungle, the, american film noir caper, released in 1950, that was adapted from w. The opening scenes highlight the urban decay illustrate that rotten heart at the central of the film s unspecified city. The asphalt jungle 1950 takes place in an unnamed midwestern city, with an unforgettable scene in the rolling kentucky hills. The asphalt jungle was one of the first crime film s to break with convention and tell its story from the side of the criminals. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. The asphalt jungle 1950the birth of the heist movie,much imitated and easily john hustons best film. In comparing the two, i think huston, as one of the genres originators and. Meanwhile, the taxicab hackey that deposited doc at cobbys bookiejoint establishment reports to the police station and the commissioner about his recollections. The asphalt jungle is a film directed by john huston with sterling hayden, louis calhern, sam jaffe, jean hagen, year.