The Asphalt Jungle

THE reference in the genre, with several remakes, this crime flick offered to Sterling Hayden the opportunity to give one of his best performances ever. It is not the most memorable heist movie of the movie history, because the story doesn't focus only on it, the same with RIFIFI, the most interesting part concerns the characters, photography, camera angles and overall directing. You don't have only Hayden but also Sam Jaffe, Jim Withmore, Louis Calhern, Anthony Caruso.... A crime film of tragedy and fate, failure and inevitable. One of the best endings of all times.

This could very well be a bold statement to make, but I genuinely believe that is so. The Asphalt Jungle is just wonderful, it is shot with documentary realism, and it is an exceptional film. The cinematography is fantastic, the whole film looks so good, and Miklos Rosza's(Spellbound, The Thief of Baghdad) score is superb. The Asphalt Jungle is also brilliantly scripted, very sophisticated and witty, the direction from John Huston is right on the money and the plot is gripping. And the acting is superb, Sam Jaffe is totally convincing as the mastermind, while Sterling Hayden and Anthony Caruso are solid as rocks in their roles and they are superbly supported by Jean Hagen and Marilyn Monroe. Overall, simply exceptional, a must-see. 10/10 Bethany Cox