Heist films intrigue me. Each element; the gathering of a team, the planning, the execution, and the aftermath work together to create a complex story. The Asphalt Jungle has it all. A criminal mastermind plans a diamond heist which should set up the gang for life. Almost immediately things go awry. Crooked cops, stoolies, dance hall dames, and a jaded lawyer make John Huston’s tale of a left-handed form of human endeavor so fun to watch. Sterling Hayden plays the low-key muscle who’s really a stand-up guy and Jean Hagen does a wonderful job as a b-girl carrying a torch for him. Look for Brad Dexter as, wait for it, a badass, and Marilyn Monroe in one of her first real roles.