marilyn monroe

“Some Like It Hot” (1959)

MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Joe E. Brown

Marilyn Monroe in 'The Asphalt Jungle'Fifty-seven years ago today, American audiences got their first glimpse of "The Asphalt Jungle."

John Huston's hard-boiled film noir was an influence on Quentin Tarantino, whose first feature, "Reservoir Dogs," also told the story of a bungled jewel heist.

"The Asphalt Jungle" is a wicked crime story, complete with tough-talking hoods, hard-nosed cops and dangerous damsels.

Doc Riedenschneider (Sam Jaffe), is the brains behind the ambitious robbery and he gets the movie's best line: "Experience has taught me never to trust a policeman. Just when you think one's all right, he turns legit."

Dix Handley (Sterling Hayden) provides the formidable muscle. Hayden was great at playing big, blunt instruments. But, his tough guys never came off as cartoonish villains. They always seemed like the real deal, and for good reason. Before taking up acting, New Jersey-born Hayden ran away from home at age 17 to become a sailor. He worked his way up the ranks to become a respected sea captain, before making his way to Hollywood. Hayden also enlisted in the Marines for awhile, running guns to Yugoslavia during World War II. So, yeah, Hayden had street cred.