Runtime: 112 minutes
Directed by: John Huston
Starring: Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Sam Jaffe, James Whitmore, Jean Hagen
From: MGM
Yep, I've happened to see three films in a row from either MGM or United Artists; that's just how it turned out. That'll change w/ my next review...
One way or another, we all work for our vice. While film noirs and heist pictures aren't exactly my one movie vice they are things I tend to enjoy on average. Thus, it is a surprise then that I haven't given this a shot until just last night on the Criterion Channel. At least there's always classics still out there for me to experience for the first time as a mature film-watcher.
The movie is more about the personalities involved than the heist itself, but when those personalities are so fascinating and so full of life, that formula worked for me. It involves such shady characters as bookies, safecrackers, a corrupt lawyer and “hooligans” as a criminal mastermind just out of prison decides to steal a common target in in this genre: jewels. Things don't go exactly as planned and each character's downfall is shown in exacting detail. I don't want to spoil much of this journey so I'll just say a few words.
The dialogue, the situations, the gorgeous black and white cinematography, the cast, the music... all of it is of high quality so it was never a dull experience as I was always fascinated in the machinations of how this scheme was planned then the aftermath of there being some snafus in the scheme. The heist itself was at least interesting, not to mention presented rather well and a long tense scene in of itself. The tall striking Sterling Hayden was unforgettable as the thugish lead but all the other main players were also solid... even the molls of the main players were intriguing, including Marilyn Monroe in a role smaller than later advertising of the movie-or even the images used for Letterboxd-would lead you to believe. Still, it was an unforgettable small role and as the police commissioner (part of The Asphalt Jungle also focuses on law enforcement attempting to curb crime then later on catching the thieves) notes, it is rather gross that she's going out with someone old enough to be her grandfather. Of course, in modern parlance, perhaps it's just a Sugar Daddy relationship...
All that said, this is a movie which humanizes the crooks to the point that you know one wishes to return home to his old Kentucky farm and another is captivated by a random cute young lady dancing to swing music. If you dig film noir and/or heist films, Asphalt is a must-watch.
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