So successful in evoking [the city's] aura that the reader breathes the air of menace that emanates from its implacable personality ans shivers ...
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reviews
May 16, 2010
Tony
rated it: 
Burnett, W. R. THE ASPHALT JUNGLE. (1949). ****. I first read this classic crime novel about forty years ago, and it still holds up well. I also remember seeing the film in the theater when I was a kid. Since then, I’ve watched the film again. It was a classic, starring Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe, Louis Calhern, James Whitmore, and Marilyn Monroe in a bit part in her early days. The film was directed by John Huston and was nominated for four Academy Awards. This novel and subsequent fil
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Jan 29, 2012
Kristopher
rated it: 
A fascinating read, if not of the greatest literary prowess. I'm still trying to decide if Burnett was providing an ironic critique of the city or an American-heartland, xenophobic rant against immigrants. Either way the highest it could get is a four.
The film adaptation is much better and, ironically, changes very little of the book. It just doesn't include the subtle xenophobic comments.
The film adaptation is much better and, ironically, changes very little of the book. It just doesn't include the subtle xenophobic comments.
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Apr 29, 2011
Jason
rated it: 
This was a good thriller. The author was not as adept others in handling the pschological aspects of some of the characters. There seems to me a gulf in the noir tradition where Chester Himes masters theold John D. McDonald has the west coast. In the middle Nelson Algren is the recognized master, but even he has trouble with name spelling, accents and heritage. Burnett's book made a great movie, won an Oscar for screen play and others - a big honor for the genre - and while I like great study in
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Jan 02, 2009
David
rated it:
“Here’s to crime!” A GREAT crime novel from 1949, and maybe the model for just about every great heist novel and movie most of us have ever seen, just as Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe looms over the hardboiled detective even today. As such – and also maybe because I must’ve seen the film some time back when – there is something very familiar about all of this –, the driven ringleader Doc Riemenscheider (I wonder if the surname of Westlake’s - may he rest - Dortmunder is a tribute?) a maestro of cri
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Dec 08, 2007
Tosh
rated it:
Basically I love all heist films and books. Except for the current Ocean 11 series, which is crap. But everything else is usually great. "The Asphalt Jungle" is sort of the granddaddy of heist stories. And yes, they're basically the same. The leader is always emotionally cool, while the weak one usually likes to showoff to his girlfriend, who in turn finks on everyone I love that.
May 14, 2011
Burnett wrote the prototypical gangster novel with "Little Caesar," which was adapted into the prototypical gangster movie. In "The Asphalt Jungle" Burnett wrote the prototypical heist novel, which went on to be adapted into the prototypical heist movie. Nowadays these books feel cliched, which is in this case high praise.
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