Review of The Asphalt Jungle (1950) by Jeremy B — 18 Jul 2009

Solid, gripping heist film that assuredly set the stage for so many more to come. According to the Turner Classic intro, this was the first heist film to be told entirely from the perspective of the criminals, giving it a neat edge that a lot of similar films didn't.

The plot is typical for the genre - there's the caper, there's complications, egos start coming into play, things spiral out of control, etc., but it's all done with a great early-noir style and some nice dialogue that really keeps things moving.

And, of course, there's the inimitable Sterling Hayden to enjoy, here playing a thuggish heavy with dreams of getting back to his family farm. You've seen movies like The Asphalt Jungle before, but even so, it's a lot of fun, with some great images, tense sequences, and fun characters.

Well worth checking out.