The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Tsubaki S

  
  I was expecting Dix to start talking about our precious bodily fluids at any moment. Like other noirs, it inspired far better movies, and this one gets a bit too preachy regarding the "greater good" of the police and what not. Ok flick, not Huston's best.

• Bob O

  
  John Huston's highly influential heist/noir The Asphalt Jungle resonates so profoundly because of the way its director invests each crew member with personality and motivation. A low-life hooligan with the heart of a farmboy (Sterling Hayden), a German career-con who's… More
  John Huston's highly influential heist/noir The Asphalt Jungle resonates so profoundly because of the way its director invests each crew member with personality and motivation. A low-life hooligan with the heart of a farmboy (Sterling Hayden), a German career-con who's really a romantic with a penchant for senoritas, and safe-crackin new father, team up for a jewel caper. Of course crime doesn't pay, but when a film's lawless hoods are as human as these you sure as hell wish it did.

• Reid V

  
  Huston's 1950 Noir about a jewel heist is an incredibly captivating film. Normally when I hear a film described as being about a heist, my mind immediately turns to the myriad examples of bad films centered around a them. For example: Entrapment, The Heist, The Score, Soul Plane… More
  Huston's 1950 Noir about a jewel heist is an incredibly captivating film. Normally when I hear a film described as being about a heist, my mind immediately turns to the myriad examples of bad films centered around a them. For example: Entrapment, The Heist, The Score, Soul Plane However, much like he in the Treasure of the Sierra Madre, he creates fully realized characters that allow this film to soar high above it's heist film cohorts. The film centers around a million dollar jewel heist. Sam Jaffe plays Doc Erwin, a criminal mastermind who has been released from prison and is planning another big score. Through a local bookie, he pulls together a group of criminals to get the job done. While the above could summarize many different films, I assure you there is nothing like The Asphalt Jungle. The film utilizes the POV of the criminals to tell the story. Yet, unlike Reservoir Dogs which some people have equated this film with, this isn't just an hour and a half full of slick dialogue. While they may partake in criminal activities, Huston gives us the people behind the criminal actions. A fantastic Sterling Hayden desires to get money not so he can fund more criminal endeavors, he wants to buy back his families farm that he lost in the Great Depression. The safe cracker Louis wants to support his wife and his kids. Huston does an incredible job of letting the viewer empathize with these characters by letting us see their lives away from planning and executing the job. Huston shows the audience that crime isn't always driven by malice, crime is sometimes just a part of life. Louis Calhern sums this notion up best in the film when he states: "After all, crime is only... a left-handed form of human endeavor..." While Huston doesn't vilify the criminals, he doesn't deify the cops either. For the most part they are crooked and although they exclaim that they do not want to let the "beasts rule the jungle", they often stand shoulder to shoulder with the brutes. It is a simply marvelous & thought-provoking film. If Huston keeps this up he will keep moving up on my list of astounding directors.

• AJ V

  
  Sort of interesting, but mostly an average film noir type movie. It's not bad, but it didn't grab my interest much either.

• Saskia D

  
  Entertaining, not a dull moment. But not a masterpiece in my opinion..

• William S

  
  Louis Calhern's steely restraint, Marc Lawrence's sweaty desperation, Jean Hagen losing an eyelash, Marilyn Monroe and her "big banana-head", John McIntire barking commands and judgment like a terrier, James Whitmore's love of cats, lascivious Sam Jaffe… More
  Louis Calhern's steely restraint, Marc Lawrence's sweaty desperation, Jean Hagen losing an eyelash, Marilyn Monroe and her "big banana-head", John McIntire barking commands and judgment like a terrier, James Whitmore's love of cats, lascivious Sam Jaffe slipping up on his drool and Sterling Haydn dying beautifully. What more do you need?

• Michael G

  
  This movie is so tough you'll get a black eye watching it. One of the pillars of film noir and despite the fact I've seen it dozens of times I'm still on the edge of my seat whenever I watch it. Sterling Hayden's the quintessential bad-ass and there's not one… More
  This movie is so tough you'll get a black eye watching it. One of the pillars of film noir and despite the fact I've seen it dozens of times I'm still on the edge of my seat whenever I watch it. Sterling Hayden's the quintessential bad-ass and there's not one false note as far as the rest of the cast's concerned either. Also, I'm not a big fan of Marilyn Monroe, but she was truly captivating. And of course, John Huston's direction through a masterful script makes this one of the best heist movies ever. If you like The Asphalt Jungle, The Killing and Rififi are also well worth your time.

• xGary X

  
  A newly formed crew pull off a million dollar jewel heist but when they are doubled crossed by their financial backer, all their careful planning falls apart. Similar to Double Indemnity in that what seems like a perfect plan unravels because of circumstances out of their control… More
  A newly formed crew pull off a million dollar jewel heist but when they are doubled crossed by their financial backer, all their careful planning falls apart. Similar to Double Indemnity in that what seems like a perfect plan unravels because of circumstances out of their control combined with weakness of character, The Asphalt Jungle is also the blueprint for the modern heist movie. Noir had evolved from the affected and literary roots of Huston's debut, and it resembles the contemporary crime film far more in its grittier style and more naturalistic characters and dialogue. Sterling Hayden is the pick of the cast of comparatively little known character actors, and the straightforward honour and dignity of a man who is assumed to be nothing more than a violent street thug contrasts both with the obsequious and double dealing face of respectability played by Louis Calhern and the corruption of the dirty cop who breaks the case. On the down side, the female characters are a little weak and the ending feels more anti-climactic than bleak and so I personally prefer the convoluted plotting and punchy firecracker dialogue of earlier Noirs, but for those used to more realism in their tough guy street dramas, this is a great starting point.

• Veronique K

  
  "the asphalt jungle" is john huston's heist classic which reaches the pinnacle of this gendre with enough keleiscopic characters to sustain a revieting hard-boiled picture to entice you into this god-condemned dimension of film noir. an aging millionaore emmerich who… More
  "the asphalt jungle" is john huston's heist classic which reaches the pinnacle of this gendre with enough keleiscopic characters to sustain a revieting hard-boiled picture to entice you into this god-condemned dimension of film noir. an aging millionaore emmerich who just goes bankrupt recently schemes to doublecross his gang of jewlry thievery to elope with the whole gross of sum then spend a transient journey of extravaganza with his mistress(marilyn manroe) who is young enough to be his granddughter. unfortunately, his con is penetrated by doc, a man of savvy wisdom, also the brain behind the heist, aided by the shrewd hitman dix who longs nothing but to reclaim his lost familyfiled in the south....eventually could they scram with what they initially seek? one definitive line from emmerich would be "crime is the left handed form of huamn endeavor" for "asphalt jungle"...the earth abounds good and evil, virtue and vice, and they're all termed by humans. one requires another to complement each other. it guides us toward the underground predatory territory of this asphalt jungle with beasts slughtering each other for the juicy raw meat they droolingly covet. as doc remarks "we all work for our vices", the city is an asphalt jungle for the predators to quest its preys....at last, the jungle wins, ceased with the dirge of dix's demise over his natural retreat, farmland. it's also a good chance to glance over the freshly young marilyn manroe who ticklingly utters "uncle lon" all the time, whose cameo is brief but visually impressive. "the asphalt jungle" would be considered the vigorously gory tale about the existentialistic oblivion of urban criminality, dissected from the perspect of cons, constrastive to late 40s "the naked city" which intercuts from the angle of policeforce. two flicks could be parallels as the dark tales of urban disillusions.

• Stella D

  
  perhaps the greatest heist film ever made, a fabulous tall tale that is pure john huston. the part of a lifetime for sterling hayden and an ending that's haunted me for years. after all, crime is only a left handed form of human endeavor

• Tim S

  
  The perfect heist movie. Louis Calhern and Sam Jaffe are great.

• Pierluigi P

  
  The perfect blueprint of the great heist films. a lyrical, fatalistic and bitter work, like a castle of cards. Superb from Huston expressionistic direction to Sterling Hayden's deeply felt portrayal. Marilyn Monroe never looked more beautiful.

• Cindy I

  
  You will recognize every actor in this really well-done jewel heist flick, but you won't be able to name more than one or two. Why? Because it's filled with every character actor to come down the pike in the 40's.

• Adam M

  
  as good as The Killing, I think

• Ken S

  
  This and the Killing are the 2 best noir heist movies in my opinion.

• Jason S

  
  This was a pretty good hiest flick. I really enjoyed all the characters in the movie as well. Even though they didn't have a lot of time to tell all the stories you felt connected to each one. The city scenes we great and it gave you the feel of being trapped in something dark… More
  This was a pretty good hiest flick. I really enjoyed all the characters in the movie as well. Even though they didn't have a lot of time to tell all the stories you felt connected to each one. The city scenes we great and it gave you the feel of being trapped in something dark and dirty. That is supported even greater with the last scene that takes place out in the country. A great noir flick.

• Anastasia B

  
  What is it with Film Noir, that's so dark, yet irresistible? Watching 'The Asphalt Jungle' gives you some of the answers. The Law of Cause and Consequence: every man is responsible for his actions and every man is flawed; therefore, every man is bound to make a mistake… More
  What is it with Film Noir, that's so dark, yet irresistible? Watching 'The Asphalt Jungle' gives you some of the answers. The Law of Cause and Consequence: every man is responsible for his actions and every man is flawed; therefore, every man is bound to make a mistake that never fails to pay back in the end. This morality tale, disguised as a caper film, in John Huston's hands becomes one of the best noir films of all time. Thanks also, to the terrific cast: Sterling Hayden as the tough word-sparing thug who also has a well-hidden sensitivity. Jean Hagen, the beautiful yet foolish enough woman who falls for him and wants to help him, but can't. Sam Jaffe, the quiet and plotting "Doc", Louis Calhern, amazing as the corrupt lawyer, and last but not least, James Whitmore and Marilyn Monroe in secondary yet important roles. The Asphalt Jungle is a film you want to revisit, many times, because of its undeniable charm as a classic, and because you always want to hope that the fool you've come to love may, just this time, just for once, be spared.

• Buddy A

  
  One of the quintessensial "heist" films, and also one of the best. Great cinematography and great direction meet excellent acting (even from Monroe, here in one of her early film roles, despite the fact that most people of her time told her she couldn't act...), forming… More
  One of the quintessensial "heist" films, and also one of the best. Great cinematography and great direction meet excellent acting (even from Monroe, here in one of her early film roles, despite the fact that most people of her time told her she couldn't act...), forming a moody film noir that basically set the tone for all future "heist" pictures. Definitely recommended.

Read all 18 featured audience ratings