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The Asphalt Jungle

  • 1950
  • Passed
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
29K
YOUR RATING
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:36
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir

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, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    29K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Huston
    • Writers
      • Ben Maddow
      • John Huston
      • W.R. Burnett
    • Stars
      • Sterling Hayden
      • Louis Calhern
      • Jean Hagen
    • 175User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 14 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Asphalt Jungle
    Trailer 2:36
    Watch The Asphalt Jungle

    Photos112

    Sterling Hayden, Jean Hagen, and Sam Jaffe in The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
    Marilyn Monroe and Louis Calhern in The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
    Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Brad Dexter, and Sam Jaffe in The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
    Sterling Hayden and Jean Hagen in The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
    Sterling Hayden and Jean Hagen in The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
    "The Asphalt Jungle" M. Monroe & Sterling Hayden 1950 MGM
    "Asphalt Jungle" 1950 MGM
    Publicty still for "The Asphalt Jungle" 1950
    Publicity still for "The Asphalt Jungle" 1950
    Publicity still for "The Asphalt Jungle" 1950 Photo by Frank Powolny
    Publicity still for "The Asphalt Jungle" 1950
    Publicity still for "The Asphalt Jungle" 1950

    Top cast

    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

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    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)

    User reviews175

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Darkly absorbing Jungle Caper
    I hadn't seen The Asphalt Jungle for nearly 30 years until tonight, I think I must have (wrongly) considered it to be a "modern film", ie post rock'n'roll and dismissed it as too earthy as a result. Well I was wrong, it's certainly a Golden Age film made with high production values, with all the right actors, direction, music and story the Golden Age had produced. The music especially links it back to Double Indemnity and of course Huston to The Maltese Falcon, Jaffe to Lost Horizon etc. It was simply a signpost to the type of films to come , the ones I avoid.

    It's gritty, as realistic as a gritty fantasy could be in 1950, as realistic as I want. The multi character interplay sticks in the mind, everyone's grafting and ready to dump on the next guy, apart from The Hooligan who dumb as he is really has a heart. It's Sam Jaffe's film though, his calculating but flawed dirty old man character was a classic perv-ormance, nowadays we would not have been spared the sleaze, but he walked a fine line successfully.

    And again, the sleazy relationship between Uncle Louis Calhern and young Marilyn Monroe was perfectly handled.

    All in all a marvellous film from the twilight years of the Golden Age.
    helpful•68
    14
    • Spondonman
    • Feb 17, 2005

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 12, 1950 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • The Asphalt Jungle (The City Under the City)
    • Filming locations
      • 120-128 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA(opening scenes - The Vulcan Copper & Supply Co.)
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • 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

    Technical specs

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

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