Review of The Asphalt Jungle (1950) by Harpreet S — 29 Aug 2012

The best laid plans...as the saying goes, a minute here or a what if there it all comes tumbling down as a house of cards. A gripping noire film of a jewel heist that goes wrong and once the first slip up happens the rest follows suit until the gang are all caught or killed.

Sam Jaffe plays "Doc" a just released criminal mastermind who has come up with a plan for a big jewel heist. Like Oceans 11 he recruits the best in the area to help him out, a driver, the safecracker, the muscle, and the fence.

Problems start during the burglary when the safecracker gets shot and they shoot the guard who discovers the crime in progress. After that we follow a corrupt cop, Barry Kelly as Lt. Ditrich, follows up the crime with revenge on his mind.

Sterling Hayden is Dix Handley, the muscle, who wants this to be his last job and live a life of quite "retirement" with his girl. Of course this wont happen and it is a matter of time before all are caught.

Also noted for one of the first screen appearances of Marilyn Monroe who plays the mistress of the fence. A perfect film in B&W to enhance the grime of the subject.