Genre: Crime / Film-Noir / Drama Director(s): John Huston Release Date: 23 May 1950 Movie rating: 7.9

A film noir masterpiece directed and co-written by legendary American film maker John Huston, “The Asphalt Jungle” was adapted from the book of the same name by W. R. Burnett. It is also noted for being Marilyn Monroe’s first major movie role, albeit a minor one. It is a caper movie about a group of expert criminals attempting a lucrative jewel robbery. A whip smart criminal called Erwin “Doc” Riedenschneider (Sam Jaffe) comes out of prison after seven years with his most ambitious plan yet – a jewel robbery worth a million dollars. Doc gets in touch with a wealthy corrupt lawyer Emmerich (Louis Calhern) who agrees to give him the money to hire a three men crew: a driver, a safecracker, and a thug. The long, elaborate heist seen that ensues is considered among the most elegant heist scenes in the history of the genre. Ultimately, their plan is interrupted when, in an attempt to open the safe, the explosion turns on the alarms of the neighboring businesses, bringing the cops sooner than expected. That is only the first of the obstacles the daring criminals will face in their attempt to get rich over night and flee the forces of law.

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