Touches You

Such a frustrating disappointment

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Almost any movie with Marilyn Monroe is a must-see movie and this legendary film noir directed by John Huston is no exception. True, a little bit of astute editing would help the pace no end. Some tedious reminiscences about his early life in Kentucky by not-so Sterling Hayden could go for a start, even though this is tied in with the way overlong, drawn-out concluding scenes. They need trimming too. Script and director also let us down earlier in the movie in an exactly similar fashion when they telegraph how Sam Jaffe will be captured and then proceed to show us what they've already told us. Credibility is also strained when McIntyre's police commissioner emerges as a comic figure. This was no doubt intentional, but it's a distraction nonetheless. Fortunately, Monroe's role though not over-large, is certainly memorable. Back in 1950, M-G-M didn't consider Marilyn important enough to even mention in the Press Book or on the poster art. When the film was re-issued in 1954, however, Marilyn was suddenly promoted to above-the-title billing. In fact, the film took twice as much money on re-issue than it did on original release.

(Flash Review)This Noir heist film took a slightly different approach from what I've seen than most. Not really a spoiler by saying this is a heist film. It has a solid set up and execution of a heist. There are several parties involved in various and sly ways. Who will come out on top? Will the heist be a success or a failure? Will anyone escape, be capture or even killed? A good portion of the film dealt with each person's outcome post heist. All of this was fairly interesting as the plot was intricate and complemented with nice cinematography. Marilyn Monroe has a brief appears in her early days. Overall, it was a solid Noir caper film but it wasn't overly spectacular. I may need and it would be worth a second viewing to see if I missed any subtleties that may have enhanced its impact.

This is a caper film and one of the best examples of film noir. The black and white photography is stylish and atmospheric, the music is dramatic and sensitive to the visuals, the acting is terrific.Of course it helps to have a cast that includes Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, James Whitmore, Sam Jaffe and Marilyn Monroe. Their characters populate the city's "jungle"--the dark underside where each denizen has his vice. The film suggests that its inhabitants are infected with an urban disease, being too far from the land. This is the antithesis of "Spencer's Mountain", for example, where goodness wins out, because their lives are grounded in the soil."The Asphalt Jungle" is one of the best examples of film noir and has significantly influenced many films that followed. Like "The Maltese Falcon", it explores the dreams of those who are always looking for the big score. The final scene is nearly perfect in its symbolism and execution. This is a film that can be watched many times and enjoyed for its literate writing.

THE ASPHALT JUNGLE is a film with extremely realistic description of the criminals (losers) in a successful enterprise. At the center of the story is a robbery carried out by a group of criminals who, regardless of social position and education essentially losers from the start. The film, which has a distinctly noir style seems natural in a vicious circle of crime in which criminals devour themselves. From the above it can be concluded that the characterization is very good. Taking into account characteristics such as loyalty or duplicity, this would be one of many good noir films.I can only conclude from the criminals in this film are not up, well-planned, robbery. In fact they are not explicitly negative characters. They are quite vulnerable. These are seen when things went wrong. Robbery in the film is on one hand a lifeline for criminals (who could not reach), and on the other side the redemption of the police. Fascinating is the way in which the director merged underground. Rogue and bully, rich and cheeky bookie, an ex-con with a brilliant plan of robbery and well-known lawyer who was left penniless. Each of the characters wants a sort of salvation.Sterling Hayden as Dix Handley is confident, fiery and arrogant bully who just wants to go home. Louis Calhern as Alonzo D. Emmerich is witty and resourceful lawyer, who used all means to get his hands on the spoils and with his mistress fled the country. Sam Jaffe as "Doc" Erwin Riedenschneider is a mastermind and a criminal who acts like he has all the cards up his sleeve. I have to mention Marilyn Monroe as a mistress. Well, beautiful and incredibly hot mistress.Everything seems pretty rotten but basically it is not. This movie is a balanced blend of action and reaction of the same character.