Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Noir Indeed !, August 5, 2004
Actually, I'll give "The Asphalt Jungle" four and a half stars, as it stands as one of the great "films noir", and another triumph for director, John Huston. This is a gritty, realistic portrait of the big city's dark "underbelly", circa 1950, and some of the shady characters who are trying to survive in this tough environment.
Most of the people we meet in "Jungle" are crooks, with different skills--there is even the obligatory "cop on the take". A brainy crook named "Doc" ( Sam Jaffe, excellent as usual ) has just been released from jail, where he has clearly not been rehabilitated ! He has planned a big jewellery heist. Of course, he needs help to pull it off. With the assistance of the local bookie, "Cobby" ( sweaty, nervous Marc Lawrence ), he recruits an expert safe-cracker, "Louis" ( desperate Anthony Caruso ), a getaway driver, "Gus" ( cool-under-fire James Whitmore ) and, for muscle, a bitter, tough-as-nails hood, "Dix" (an unshaven Sterling Hayden, never better ). To bankroll the whole operation, our gang brings in a sleazy lawyer named Emmerich, played with smarmy elitism by Louis Calhern.
Of course, you know what can happen to "the best laid plans". Unforeseen problems, accidents and the personal faults of the individuals involved cause Doc's "perfect plan" to go off the rails. There is much more to the plot, not to mention some interesting sub-plots, but I don't like to spoil movies for first-time viewers, so I will not reveal more of the story-line.
I would like to mention a few other performances though that further contribute to a fine film. Jean Hagen plays "Doll", Dix's long-suffering girlfriend, a very different role to her ditzy, petulant "star" in "Singin' in the Rain"--what a versatile actress ! John McIntire registers strongly as the Police Commissioner, a job obviously not for "nice guys" ! Brad Dexter has a few memorable scenes as a private eye.
Finally, Emmerich's mistress, "Angela", is played by a young actress just starting her career in movies--Marilyn Monroe. Her acting here may not be on a par with the other actors, but her glamour and charisma still leap off the screen.
The DVD exhibits a reasonable black and white picture, with some occasional wear--sound of course is mono. Extras include a trailer, a brief introduction by John Huston, optional comments by film scholar, Drew Casper, and even a few reminiscences by cast-member, James Whitmore ( his comments on Marilyn are interesting ).
Bottom line--if you like classic, hard-boiled film noir, "The Asphalt Jungle" rates with the best. You are in for 112 minutes of gripping entertainment. Recommended.
A very sad footnote, dated 16 February 2009--Mr. James Whitmore has passed away. This fine actor had a long career in film, television and in the theatre, where he displayed a remarkable talent in so many different roles.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Huston's Revenge, July 12, 2000
When director John Huston was edged out of the production of The Killers, he was determined to create a landmark film that would define and embody professional crimminality. Huston exceeded his expectations. The Asphalt Jungle is the seminal "caper film" which inspired a host of similar pictures. Huston assembled a superb cast where each actor represented a character who possessed a special skill needed to complete a million dollar jewel heist. Sam Jaffe is Doc Reidenschneider-the mastermind, Anthony Caruso is Louie Ciavelli- the safe cracker, Marc Lawrence is Coby- the bookmaker who finances the operation, Sterling Hayden is Dix Handley- the enforcer, James Whitmore is Gus- the wheelman,and Louis Calhern is Emmerich- the corrupt attorney who acts as a fence. The characters, especially Doc, Louie, Dix, and Gus, are sketched with blatant realism. Each character is proud of their status and existence within the underworld. Their careers and reputations hinge on their acceptance by fellow professionals. Huston injects the virtues of trust, loyalty, and respect into their crimminal circle and simultaneously questions the code of honor among the rightousness. Emmerich sums up this dichotomy with a memorable line: "There's nothing so different about them (crimminals). Crime is only a left-handed form of human endeavor." Morality, an issue in most noir films becomes blurred as Emmerich and a graft accepting detective become viewed as figures more contemptable than the crimminals involved in the heist. Sterling Hayden as Dix delivers his most memorable performance. Dix is not just another tough henchman, but a troubled loner trying to ..."wash this city dirt off me". Huston allows viewers unabashed insight into each of his characters. Doc with his predilection for nubile young girls, Gus's conscious awareness of his physical deformity, Louie's familial responsibilities, and Emmerich's moral disintegration add to the film's realism. The Asphalt Jungle is one of the premier black and white films ever made. John Huston's creative energy is evident in every line and scene. Truely American film making at its best.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Criminal Underworld as Mirror Image., March 21, 2005
"The Asphalt Jungle", based on the novel by W. R. Burnett, was director John Huston's farewell to film noir style. His first film noir, 1941's "The Maltese Falcon", also adapted from a novel, was arguably the first film in the noir style, making Huston an essential contributor to the movement. "The Asphalt Jungle"'s apt subtitle, "The City Under the City", pretty well describes what the film is about: the criminal underworld. "The Asphalt Jungle" explores the planning, execution, and aftermath of a great jewel heist by a diverse band of criminals. Doc Riedenschneider (Sam Jaffe) is a caper mastermind who has just been released from prison. Eager to execute a grand jewel heist, Doc immediately visits a bookmaker named Cobby (Marc Lawrence), whom he hopes can connect him to a financier for the project. Cobby introduces Doc to a crooked and apparently wealthy lawyer, Mr. Lon Emmerich (Louis Calhern), who jumps at the opportunity to finance the heist. They hire a boxman, or safecracker, Louis Ciavelli (Anthony Caruso), a driver, Gus (James Whitmore), and a hooligan, Dix Handley (Sterling Hayden) to pull the job. Things might go well if Emmerich were not actually broke and planning to double-cross his partners.
John Huston says in his introduction to the film, "You may not admire these people, but I think they'll fascinate you." In truth, the criminals of "The Asphalt Jungle" are more sympathetic than it's law enforcement agents, who number a corrupt bully and a self-righteous crusader. As Emmerich says in the film, "Crime is only a left-handed form of human endeavor." These characters have aspirations, hopes, and troubles similar to their law-abiding counterparts. And they are foiled by their obsessions. The underworld is a mirror image of the respectable world.
Louis Calhern and Sterling Hayden give memorable, complex performances as Emmerich, a corrupt lawyer whose extravagance and foolishness do everyone in, and as Dix, the farm boy turned stick-up man whose gambling stands in the way of his dreams. Marilyn Monroe has a small role as Emmerich's mistress, Angela. "The Asphalt Jungle" is great classic film noir with intriguing crooks and impressive character acting all around. The film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards in 1951, including best director, cinematography, and screenplay. W. R. Burnett's novel has since been adapted 3 more times (in 1958 as "The Badlanders", in 1963 as "Cairo", and in 1972 as "Cool Breeze"), but John Huston's "The Asphalt Jungle" is still the gold standard.
The DVD (Warner Home Video 2004 release): There is a 45-second introduction to the film by director John Huston, filmed around 1950. The sound quality is very poor, but you can make out what he's saying if you listen carefully. There is an audio commentary by film historian and USC School of Film and Television professor Drew Casper, with excerpts from an archival interview with actor James Whitmore. Dr. Casper is more a film historian than a noir specialist. He places the film in context by discussing the history of MGM studios in the decade preceding "The Asphalt Jungle". He talks about John Huston's directing style and the film's structure. Judging by this and other commentary that I've heard, Casper tends to think more in terms of genre than style. So he's looking at "The Asphalt Jungle" as a caper film more than a noir film. We don't get scene-by-scene or shot-by-shot analysis. Whitmore's interview is interjected where appropriate. He relates anecdotes about getting the job, director John Huston, and the film's cast. There is also a theatrical trailer (2 1/2 minutes). Subtitles for the film are available in English, French, and Spanish. Dubbing is available in French.
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