The Asphalt Jungle 1950
I had heard good things about this movie, though it is not on AFI’s Top 100 list. I didn’t know what to expect from it, but it is a movie about a crime and criminals. There aren’t a lot of heroes, but the criminals are generally likeable enough that you kind of want them to get away with it. The lack of heroes and the seedy characters make this movie grittier than usual for something made in 1950. The robbery isn’t incredibly intricate, but is pretty good, with most people regarding this as the first caper film. And the characters all have distinct personalities, so it also works as a character drama in some ways. The dialogue is kind of noir-ish and the actors have a hard time making it sound realistic, particularly Sterling Hayden whose performance runs from terrible to just wooden. I feel like the writing is good, with strong characters, but they are hard to play. Amid all of these gritty characters, one minor role is played by Marilyn Monroe as a rich guy’s mistress, looking amazing, but in a pretty small part. I’m probably grading on a curve a little since this is an older movie, a little too stagey at times, but overall it feels more modern, with many excellent caper movies following its blueprint.
Written: 19 Jun 2021