The Asphalt Jungle is a 1950 American crime movie directed by John Huston and was based on the 1949 novel of the same name by W. R. Burnett.It stars Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, James Whitmore, Marc Lawrence, Marilyn Monroe, Anthony Caruso, Barry Kelley and was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.It was nominated for 4 Academy Awards in 1951. [2][3], On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 97% based on 35 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. Dix and Doc take the loot to Emmerich, who confesses he is broke. Doc needs $50,000 to hire three men—a safecracker, a driver, and a hooligan—to pull off the caper. He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle… [8] The suicide scene was, however, re-written: the original scene had Emmerich finishing a suicide note, while the revised scene has him not being able to write the note and being extremely agitated about the decision to kill himself. Doc hires the safe cracker Louis Ciavelli, the driver Gus Minissi, and the gunman Dix Handley to the heist. "[1][7], The Production Code Administration's main concerns with the script were the detailed depiction of the heist and the fact that the character of the corrupt lawyer Emmerich seemed to cheat justice by killing himself. By balancing elements in the foreground and background of his images, Huston frames events and responses at once, without cutting between them.[10]. This brutally frank story of crime and punishment in a Midwestern city was directed by two-time Academy Award winner, John Huston—son of the late Walter Huston. Asphalt Jungle is a high energy musical experience that will get your party started and keep it going all night. A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist. A major heist goes off as planned, but then double crosses, bad luck and solid police work cause everything to unravel. When they question him, Emmerich lies about his whereabouts and claims he spent the night with his mistress, Angela Phinlay. Written by 1,585 likes. The Asphalt Jungle is a 1950 film noir heist film directed by John Huston. It is a tale of big city crime, specifically a jewelry heist. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Emmerich is permitted to leave the room to phone his wife and commits suicide. Under pressure from police commissioner Hardy, police lieutenant Ditrich—who Cobby had previously bribed for protection—beats the bookie into confessing everything in a vain attempt to save himself. On July 6, 1989, La Cinq won on appeal, broadcasting the film on August 6, 1989, the day after the anniversary of the death of Marilyn Monroe. By Sven Mikulec. Cobby arranges a meeting between Doc and Alonzo Emmerich, a lawyer. The Asphalt Jungle! A police detective falls in love with the woman whose murder he is investigating. He muses about his vivid love and warm memory of horses he rode as a boy (especially a "tall black colt" named Corncracker). Emmerich suggests that Doc leave the jewelry with him, but Doc and Dix grow suspicious. Asphalt Jungle. The Asphalt Jungle (1950) Pages: The Story (continued) After he has had a night of sleep on the sofa in his own apartment, Doll mentions that Dix talks in his sleep, and she heard one word clearly: "Corncracker." The Asphalt Jungle featured no major box-office draws but several highly regarded actors, including Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Sam Jaffe, and Jean Hagen. Emmerich disposes of Brannom's body in the river, but the police find the corpse. A small-time grifter and nightclub tout takes advantage of some fortuitous circumstances and tries to become a big-time player as a wrestling promoter. John's pictures are usually grim (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre), but always dramatic and exciting. John Huston's "The Asphalt Jungle"(1950) is not only one of the best film noirs ever made but is without a doubt one of the greatest heist films of all time. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a Page. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards. We provide free estimates, no matter how large or small the job. Doc is introduced to the lawyer Alonzo D. Emmerich who offers to finance the whole operation and buy the gems immediately after the burglary. That Asphalt Pavement thing is full of nasty, ugly people doing nasty things. [7], Huston's first choice for the role played by Marilyn Monroe was Lola Albright, who was not available. Doc asks a taxi driver to drive him to Cleveland. He and Doll arrive at his Kentucky horse farm across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. [8] The 1955 French film Rififi, which critics such as Leonard Maltin have labeled as the best heist film ever, drew much inspiration from The Asphalt Jungle.[12]. Doc tells Emmerich of his plan to steal jewelry worth half a million dollars or more. Directed by John Huston. Dix slugs an arriving security guard, who drops his revolver, which discharges and wounds Ciavelli in the belly. However, she soon starts to have her doubts. 104 of 123 people found this review helpful. Doc hires Louie Ciavelli, a professional safecracker. [1] When the film was complete Louis B. Mayer said of it "It's trash. Aside from this one-shot, however, none of the characters in the film appeared in the television scripts, and the plots were devoted to the exploits of the major case squad of the New York Police Department. Asphalt Jungle, The, American film noir caper, released in 1950, that was adapted from W.R. Burnett’s novel about an ambitious jewel robbery orchestrated by a gang of eccentric criminals. According to film noir authority Eddie Muller, Huston later said that Monroe was "one of the few actresses who could make an entrance by leaving the room." The city is as corrupt as any big city is and these other crimes are brought up as a … A private eye escapes his past to run a gas station in a small town, but his past catches up with him. We are fully licensed, bonded and insured. The Asphalt Jungle ' s pilot episode was re-edited and lengthened to create the 1961 theatrical film The Lawbreakers. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. As stated in other comments, this film noir's influence can be seen in hundreds of disparate "caper" movies - "Rififi", "A Simple Plan", "The Guns of Navarone", "The Usual Suspects", and "How to Steal a Million", just to name a few. [1] Burnett was consulted as the shooting script was being written, and he approved the final version. Dix tells Doll Conovan—who is in love with him—of his dream to buy back the horse farm that his family lost. Doc scolds Emmerich for his foolish plan and tells him to contact the jeweler's insurance company and offer to return the valuables for 25% of their value. An orphanage runaway becomes a roller-skating champion but gets sick with polio. For the 1961 television series, see, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, "Complete National Film Registry Listing | Film Registry | National Film Preservation Board | Programs at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress", "Cinematic Classics, Legendary Stars, Comedic Legends and Novice Filmmakers Showcase the 2008 Film Registry", "Colorization and 'Moral Rights' of the Artist", "Turner Entertainment Co. v. Huston, CA Versailles, civ. A potentially violent screenwriter is a murder suspect until his lovely neighbor clears him. 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