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The Asphalt Jungle

The Asphalt Jungle

Crime · Drama · 1950

Recently paroled from prison, legendary burglar "Doc" Riedenschneider, with funding from Alonzo Emmerich, a crooked lawyer, gathers a small group of veteran criminals together in the Midwest for a big jewel heist.

Movie details

The Asphalt Jungle

“The City Under the City”

1950 Crime · Drama 1h 53m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.5 / 10

Community rating

Recently paroled from prison, legendary burglar "Doc" Riedenschneider, with funding from Alonzo Emmerich, a crooked lawyer, gathers a small group of veteran criminals together in the Midwest for a big jewel heist.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Asphalt Jungle?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Mask of Dimitrios

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White Heat

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Odds Against Tomorrow

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The Outfit

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Leonard is an English tailor who used to craft suits on London’s world-famous Savile Row. After a personal tragedy, he’s ended up in Chicago, operating a small tailor shop in a rough part of town where he makes beautiful clothes for the only people around who can afford them: a family of vicious gangsters.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Huston

Written by

Ben Maddow · John Huston

Sterling Hayden

Sterling Hayden

Dix Handley

Louis Calhern

Louis Calhern

Alonzo D. Emmerich

Jean Hagen

Jean Hagen

Doll Conovan

James Whitmore

James Whitmore

Gus Minissi

Sam Jaffe

Sam Jaffe

Doc Erwin Riedenschneider

John McIntire

John McIntire

Police Commissioner Hardy

Marc Lawrence

Marc Lawrence

Cobby

Court is in session

Put The Asphalt Jungle on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.