The Asphalt Jungle (1950): Film Noir UK

In a smog choked city somewhere in the American Midwest, an ageing criminal mastermind, newly released from prison, hatches a plan for a million dollar jewel heist and draws a wealthy lawyer and a cherry-picked trio of outlaws into his carefully devised but inevitably doomed scheme.  

Starring an incredible cast including a tight-jawed Sterling Hayden and a sultry Marilyn Monroe in her breakout role, John Huston’s gritty film noir climaxes in a meticulously detailed anatomy of a robbery that continues to influence film directors to this day. 

An uncommonly naturalistic view of a seamy underworld, The Asphalt Jungle painstakingly depicts the calm professionalism and toughness of its gangster heroes while evincing a remarkable depth of compassion for their all-too-human fragility, and it showcases a master filmmaker at the height of his powers. 

For over 70 years The Asphalt Jungle continues to stand out as one of the greatest American…