The second film in our three-part series will be the brilliantly conceived and executed film noir crime film classic The Asphalt Jungle (1950), directed by John Huston. 1 hr. 52 min.
Recently paroled master criminal Doc Riedenschneider (Sam Jaffee), with funding from crooked attorney Emmerich (Louis Calhern), gathers several crooks together for a jewel heist. Among those involved are an impoverished hood, Dix (Sterling Hayden); a driver for the heist, Gus (James Whitmore), Louis (Anthony Caruso) a professional safecracker; and Cobby (Marc Lawrence), who acts as Emmerich’s go-between. The heist is a success until a stray bullet kills one of the men. As they scramble to pick up the pieces after the theft, their greed gets the best of them, entangling them in webs of deceit, treachery and murder.
In 2008, the film was selected for preservation in the United States Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The screening will begin with a brief introduction to the film’s highlights and its significance in film history. A discussion of the film will follow.
Popcorn and soft drinks will be served.
Limit: 15 participants