The Asphalt Jungle

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The Asphalt Jungle

film by Huston [1950]

Written by Lee Pfeiffer

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Article History

The Asphalt Jungle, American film noir caper, released in 1950, that was adapted from W.R. Burnett’s novel about an ambitious jewel robbery orchestrated by a gang of eccentric criminals. Immediately after being released from prison, “Doc” Riedenschneider (played by Sam Jaffe) teams with corrupt lawyer “Lon” Emmerich (Louis Calhern) to rob a jewelry store. They recruit several criminal experts to carry out the robbery, but, despite careful planning, things quickly go awry. The film cemented John Huston’s already impressive reputation as a master writer and director. Huston understood that the most appropriate actors in an urban drama such as Asphalt ...(100 of 150 words)

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