The Asphalt Jungle

Huston returns to his noir roots with another tale of unlikely partners pursuing a common goal with no surplus of mutual trust. Perhaps the definitive Hollywood heist movie (and a clear inspiration for Jules Dassin’s Rififi), The Asphalt Jungle delineates the plotting, execution, and fallout of a jewel robbery. Distinguished by Huston’s precise direction (notably the 11-minute burglary scene, a model of sustained tension), and uncommonly rich characterizations from Sterling Hayden (a tough-guy analogue to Huston), Louis Calhern at his silken smarmiest, and especially Sam Jaffe as Doc, the mastermind with a weakness for pretty girls (whose last name, Riedenschneider, was borrowed by the Coen Brothers in their noir homage The Man Who Wasn’t There).