Panic in the Streets (1950)

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writers:

Richard Murphy (screenplay)
Daniel Fuchs (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

12 June 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

Tagline:

THE SCREEN'S GREATEST EXCITEMENT OF THE YEAR! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

A doctor and a policeman in New Orleans have only 48 hours to locate a killer infected with pneumonic plague.

Plot Keywords:

Plague | Doctor | Disease | Illegal Immigrant | Epidemic

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Richard Widmark	...	Lt. Cmdr. Clinton 'Clint' Reed M.D.
Paul Douglas	...	Capt. Tom Warren
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	Nancy Reed
Jack Palance	...	Blackie (as Walter Jack Palance)
Zero Mostel	...	Raymond Fitch
Dan Riss	...	Neff - Newspaper Reporter
Tommy Cook	...	Vince Poldi - Younger Brother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wilson Bourg Jr.	...	Charlie - Sailor (uncredited)
Beverly C. Brown	...	Dr. Mackey - Board of Health (uncredited)
Lewis Charles	...	Kochak - Murder Victim (uncredited)
Herman Cottman	...	Officer Scott - Police Lab (uncredited)
John David	...	Fruit Salesman (uncredited)
William A. Dean	...	Cortelyou (uncredited)
Robert Dorsen	...	Coast Guard Lieutenant (uncredited)
George Ehmig	...	Kleber - Medical Examiner Technician (uncredited)
H. Waller Fowler Jr.	...	Mayor Murray (uncredited)
Darwin Greenfield	...	Violet (uncredited)
Paul Hostetler	...	Lt. Paul Gafney M.D. - Public Health Service (uncredited)
Elia Kazan	...	Cleaver - Mortuary Assistant (uncredited)
Edward Kennedy	...	Jordan (uncredited)
Mary Liswood	...	Angie Fitch - Raymond's Wife (uncredited)
Henry Mamet	...	Anson (uncredited)
Tiger Joe Marsh	...	Bosun on Nile Queen (uncredited)
Ruth Moore Mathews	...	Mrs. Dubin (uncredited)
Emile Meyer	...	Capt. Beauclyde - Master of Nile Queen (uncredited)
Alexis Minotis	...	John Mefaris - Restaurant Owner (uncredited)
Rex Moad	...	Wynant (uncredited)
Ray Müller	...	Dubin (uncredited)
Lenka Peterson	...	Jeanette - Charlie's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Waldo Pitkin	...	Ben (uncredited)
Tommy Rettig	...	Tommy Reed (uncredited)
Stanley J. Reyes	...	Redfield (uncredited)
John Schilleci	...	Lee (uncredited)
Aline Stevens	...	Mrs. Rita Mefaris (uncredited)
Al Theriot	...	Al (uncredited)
Guy Thomajan	...	Poldi - Blackie's Flunky (uncredited)
Arthur Tong	...	Lascar Boy on Nile Queen (uncredited)
H.T. Tsiang	...	Cook on Nile Queen (uncredited)
Irvine Vidacovich	...	Johnston (uncredited)
Juan Villasana	...	Hotel Proprietor (uncredited)
Pat Walshe	...	Pat - Newspaper Peddler (uncredited)
Val Winter	...	Commissioner Dan Quinn (uncredited)
Leo Zinser	...	Sgt. Phelps (uncredited)

Directed by
Elia Kazan

Writing credits
Richard Murphy		(screenplay)
Daniel Fuchs		(adaptation)
Edna Anhalt		(story) and
Edward Anhalt		(story)
John Lee Mahin		contract writer (uncredited)
Philip Yordan		contract writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Sol C. Siegel	....	producer

Original Music by
Alfred Newman

Cinematography by
Joseph MacDonald		(director of photography) (as Joe MacDonald)

Film Editing by
Harmon Jones

Art Direction by
Maurice Ransford
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little
Fred J. Rode		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Travilla

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph C. Behm	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
F.E. 'Johnny' Johnston	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
W.D. Flick	....	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Jack N. Young	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Til Gabani	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Lyman Hallowell	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (as Edward Powell)
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (as Herbert Spencer)
Benny Carter	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Ernie Felice	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Bernard Mayers	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Alfred Newman	....	conductor (uncredited)
Red Nichols	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Michael Audley	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Stanley Scheuer	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1950) (USA) (theatrical) (released by) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation)
• inD DVD (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Centfox (1951) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin | Greek

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #14313) | West Germany:16 (nf) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 5, 1951 with Richard Widmark and Paul Douglas reprising their film roles.

Goofs:

Continuity: In an early scene when Dr. Reed (Richard Widmark) is shown painting with his son, he flicks excess paint off the brush, and then sits on the same spot where the paint would have landed, but when he gets up there's no paint on his pants.

Quotes:

Nancy Reed:If there's a plague here, you're the most important guy in this town.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The New People: Panic in the Sand (#1.1)" (1969)

Soundtrack:

For You

Great chase climaxes a `lost gem'

Refreshing `lost' gem! Featuring effective dialog combined with excellent acting to establish the characters and involve you enough to care what happens to them. The Douglas and Widmark characters are realistic heroes. Palance is his usual evil presence. Widmark win the fisticuffs fight scene, a car chase of less than 60 seconds with a `logical' end, and a lengthy chase on foot that shames the overdone chase sequences of contemporary Hollywood. You know how it will likely end, but the suspense and interest are sustained throughout. The end of the chase is one of the most realistic you will ever see. The film seems to slow a little past the middle, but stay with it for the rewarding conclusion.