This was a very enjoyable Film-noir.  A solid story, fantastic acting, strong dialogue and great style.  If I was to choose something to critique, it would be the length of the film.  The ending just seemed to keep dragging on and on.  Shave about 20 minutes off the running time and you'd have an excellent film.

  I felt this picture was better than the Killers, as far as a Film-noir heist film goes.  I thought the story of the heist was much more powerful in Jungle.  We got to see a lot more of the preparation and execution of the robbery in Asphalt Jungle, which always seems to intrigue me.  I like being right there during the planning, as well as during the "hit".  I feel the film maker is including me because he knows what is important to me.  I am not a fan of the "talk through" of the heist after the event.  That's like someone trying to tell a joke, but botching up the punch line.  A waste of both my time and the time of the film maker.

  Sterling Hayden's portrayal of Dix is great.  Just the right mix of "criminal honor", pride, smarts and patheticism that makes the audience root for him.  I kept waiting for him to break into a speech about "our precious bodily fluids" , but much to my chagrin, he did not.  If you haven't seen Dr. Strangelove yet, you have to!  I love James Whitmore (Gus).  He is always fun to watch.  He almost looks the exact same today as he did in Jungle.  Just check out the Shawshank Redemption if you don't believe me.  I liked his "criminal-bartender" Gus in Jungle, especially his first scene where he protects Dix.  The tone that he takes with cops is right on the edge of being too arrogant, but not quite enough to get him dragged downtown as well.  Sam Jaffe plays a good mastermind.  The accent, the confidence and the Calm demeanor totally sold me.  As for Marilyn Monroe? Of course she looked hot, but she only had 3 scenes.  I hate it when studios push movies that stars made before they were stars like it is "their" movie.  Look at The Killers for another example of that with Lancaster.  Don't get me wrong, I think Monroe is a fine actress but this is not "her" movie.  Did anybody notice one of the other criminals that was in the line up with Dix?  It was Strother Martin, that guy is everywhere!  Maybe we should just choose his movies for our next go around?

  John Huston is a god.  His list of movies reads like a 10 best list put together by any critic.  He does an awesome job with Jungle.  I thoroughly enjoyed the opening scene where we see the asphalt square, the police car drive by with the radio going , and the mist covered city skyline in the background.  I was totally reminded of a jungle setting  with that mist.  He uses a great balance of light and shadow throughout the entire film.  I think I like black and white better than color because the contrasts are so in your face.  I have seen probably 10 or 12 of Huston's films and I have enjoyed every single one.

  I give the movie a solid B+, not quite as good as Séance, Wild Bunch or Silent Partner, but definitely stronger than the rest.  If we could shorten the film I think it would definitely be an A movie.