Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Asphalt Jungle

  • 1950
  • Approved
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
32K
YOUR RATING
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:36
1 Video
99+ Photos
Film NoirHeistCrimeDramaThriller

A major heist goes off as planned, but then double crosses, bad luck and solid police work cause everything to unravel.A major heist goes off as planned, but then double crosses, bad luck and solid police work cause everything to unravel.A major heist goes off as planned, but then double crosses, bad luck and solid police work cause everything to unravel.

  • Director
    • John Huston
  • Writers
    • Ben Maddow
    • John Huston
    • W.R. Burnett
  • Stars
    • Sterling Hayden
    • Louis Calhern
    • Jean Hagen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    32K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Huston
    • Writers
      • Ben Maddow
      • John Huston
      • W.R. Burnett
    • Stars
      • Sterling Hayden
      • Louis Calhern
      • Jean Hagen
    • 183User reviews
    • 77Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 14 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Asphalt Jungle
    Trailer 2:36
    The Asphalt Jungle

    Photos109

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 103
    View Poster

    Top cast73

    Edit
    Sterling Hayden
    Sterling Hayden
    • Dix Handley
    Louis Calhern
    Louis Calhern
    • Alonzo D. Emmerich
    Jean Hagen
    Jean Hagen
    • Doll Conovan
    James Whitmore
    James Whitmore
    • Gus Minissi
    Sam Jaffe
    Sam Jaffe
    • Doc Erwin Riedenschneider
    John McIntire
    John McIntire
    • Police Commissioner Hardy
    Marc Lawrence
    Marc Lawrence
    • Cobby
    Barry Kelley
    Barry Kelley
    • Lt. Ditrich
    Anthony Caruso
    Anthony Caruso
    • Louis Ciavelli
    Teresa Celli
    Teresa Celli
    • Maria Ciavelli
    Marilyn Monroe
    Marilyn Monroe
    • Angela Phinlay
    William 'Wee Willie' Davis
    William 'Wee Willie' Davis
    • Timmons
    • (as William Davis)
    Dorothy Tree
    Dorothy Tree
    • May Emmerich
    Brad Dexter
    Brad Dexter
    • Bob Brannom
    John Maxwell
    John Maxwell
    • Dr. Swanson
    Mary Anderson
    Mary Anderson
    • Police Broadcaster
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Bennett
    Ray Bennett
    • Detective in Hardy's Office
    • (uncredited)
    David Bond
    David Bond
    • Father Sortine
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Huston
    • Writers
      • Ben Maddow
      • John Huston
      • W.R. Burnett
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews183

    7.831.6K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    manuel-pestalozzi

    No stars and perfect casting make this a masterpiece

    I suppose the only reason why this movie can be purchased on video (not on DVD though, it seems) is the fact that Marilyn Monroe plays a part in it. If I am right, this shows how much the movie industry has to rely on big names. Sometimes this is a real shame. No movie proves this better than Asphalt Jungle.

    This caper movie is one of my all time favorites and frankly the best of its genre. Its brilliance lies for me in the fact that no big name of the Hollywood acting community was involved – Monroe was small fries then. Instead John Huston worked with a cast of reliable, mostly very experienced character actors many people will know as "supports" from numerous other movies of the period. And many of those actors probably gave here the best performances of their lives. Everybody is cast dead right, this is what is so magnificent about Asphalt Jungle. The balance is perfect, the chemistry works all ways. Maybe just one miscast actor or actress would have spoiled the whole atmosphere. No one is overacting at any time, and there are many, many very moving moments as one can observe these characters struggling on the sidelines of urban society.

    One is always tempted to name an actress or an actor whose performance one liked best in a movie. Here, I could not do it – I liked them all. Yet I want to mention one actor: Louis Calhern. Seldom has a sudden change of mood and countenance in a character had such an impact on me as a viewer.
    boris-26

    Film is so gritty, you need to wipe your TV clean after viewing

    THE ASPHALT JUNGLE is a sometimes unsung triumph of director/writer John Huston. Sterling Hayden plays a down and out hoodlum who pairs up with cheesecake obcessed master thief Sam Jaffee. The seedy urbane characters that populate their world keep you glued to the screen. Marilyn Monroe is perfect as the spoiled mistress of crooked lawyer Louis Calhern. James Whitmore deserved an Oscar for his role as Gus, the diner owner with a fondness for kittens and crime. Has a great look, will make you pine for more black and white.
    9claudio_carvalho

    Fantastic Film-Noir

    When the intelligent criminal Erwin "Doc" Riedenschneider (Sam Jaffe) is released from prison, he seeks a fifty thousand-dollar investment from the bookmaker Cobby (Marc Lawrence) to recruit a small gang of specialists for a million-dollar heist of jewels from a jewelry. Doc is introduced to the lawyer Alonzo D. Emmerich (Louis Calhern) that offers to finance the whole operation and buy the gems immediately after the burglary. Doc hires the safecracker Louis Ciavelli (Anthony Caruso), the driver Gus Minissi (James Whitmore)and the gunman Dix Handley (Sterling Hayden) to the heist. His plan works perfectly but bad luck and betrayals compromise the steps after the heist and the gangsters need to flee from the police.

    "The Asphalt Jungle" is a fantastic film-noir by the legendary director John Huston and with magnificent performances. The brilliant story of bad luck and betrayal in a heist was nominated to four Oscars, three Golden Globes and nominated and winner of several other prizes. Marilyn Monroe is sexy and gorgeous in a minor but important role. My vote is nine.

    Title (Brazil): "O Segredo das Jóias" ("The Secret of the Jewels")

    Note: On 30 September 2016, I saw this film again.
    Infofreak

    Brilliant crime thriller that had a profound influence on the caper genre.

    I'm a sucker for a good heist film, and three of the best I've ever seen were made around 1955/56 - 'Rififi', 'Bob le flambeur' and 'The Killing'. Now they are still three of the greatest crime thrillers ever made, but now that I've finally seen 'The Asphalt Jungle' it's obvious what source those movies were drawing on! Not that I'm saying they're rip offs, they're not, but they are kind of three (excellent) variations on Huston's theme. 'The Asphalt Jungle' must therefore be seen as the most influential crime movie of the modern era, and the blueprint for every subsequent caper movie ('The Anderson Tapes', 'Thief', 'Reservoir Dogs', 'The Usual Suspects', 'The Score',etc.etc.) This superb film noir is almost impossible to fault. The script is first rate, John Huston's direction is inspired, Sterling Hayden - possibly America's most underrated actor - is fantastic as troubled ex-con Dix Handley, and the ensemble cast are all excellent, especially James Whitmore ('Them!'), Louis Calhern ('Notorious'), Sam Jaffe ('The Day The Earth Stood Still') and John McIntire ('Psycho'). The early role for Marilyn Monroe made a strong impact on a lot of people, but I was even more impressed by Jean Hagen as Doll. She is unforgettable and her scenes with Hayden are wonderful. Why did she never become a major star? This is a crime classic and brilliant entertainment. Highly recommended!
    10axsmashcrushallthree

    "Crime is only a left-handed form of human endeavor"

    "The Asphalt Jungle" is one of the greatest crime films. The movie has its roots in several great film noir projects, such as "Double Indemnity", "The Killers", "Criss Cross", and "Out of the Past". Its lasting impression over time is based upon its quality and its unprecedentedly brilliant use of the "caper" as a plot device. 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.

    I will not give away the results of the "caper", but the film is truly superior in how it explores relationships and deception. This is one of John Huston's greatest works, and the script lays down the tension from the first moment and doesn't let up. Huston uses multiple closeups to literally drain the emotion out of the characters. Hayden, Calhern, Lawrence, Hagen, and Whitmore turn in superb performances with many memorable moments, but Sam Jaffe steals the film in an Oscar-worthy performance as the brain behind the caper. Marilyn Monroe makes an indelible impression in a fairly brief but pivotal role.

    Please do not miss this - an easy 10 out of 10.

    More like this

    Night Court
    6.9
    Night Court
    Going for a Song
    6.3
    Going for a Song
    Side Street
    7.1
    Side Street
    Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
    6.8
    Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
    The Amazing Race Canada
    7.6
    The Amazing Race Canada
    The Prowler
    7.1
    The Prowler
    Name That Tune
    5.4
    Name That Tune
    Bargain Hunt
    6.1
    Bargain Hunt
    This Morning
    4.3
    This Morning
    To Have and Have Not
    7.8
    To Have and Have Not
    Are You the One?
    6.6
    Are You the One?
    American Gladiators
    5.7
    American Gladiators

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The poster showing Marilyn Monroe in a purple dress was created much later, after she became a household name. Monroe was basically unknown when the film was made in 1950 and only has a very small role. She certainly wouldn't have been given top billing at the time. In fact, she wasn't named on the original posters at all.
    • Goofs
      When the police enter Gus's diner, he turns the volume of the music up, but oddly he does it by turning the dial counterclockwise, which would normally turn volume down. When they go, Gus turns the volume down, again turning the dial counterclockwise.
    • Quotes

      Doc Riedenschneider: One way or another, we all work for our vice.

    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Edited into American Cinema: Film Noir (1995)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ18

    • How long is The Asphalt Jungle?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 12, 1950 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Mientras la ciudad duerme
    • Filming locations
      • 120-128 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA(opening scenes - The Vulcan Copper & Supply Co.)
    • Production company
      • Loew's
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,232,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $29,868
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Asphalt Jungle (1950) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.