"The Asphalt Jungle" is a 1950 American heist film noir directed by John Huston. It stars Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, and Jean Hagen, with Marilyn Monroe in one of her early roles. The film, based on the 1949 novel by W. R. Burnett, revolves around a jewel robbery in a Midwestern city. Produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was released on May 12, 1950. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for four Academy Awards, with John Huston winning a National Board of Review Award for Best Director. In 2008, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural and historical significance. The movie's legacy includes influencing the crime thriller genre and inspiring other films like the French movie "Rififi".
