Copyright 16 January 1963 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. A Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer picture. No New York opening. U.S. release: January 1963. U.K. release: 10 March 1963. Australian release: 5 July 1963. 8,189 feet. 91 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: An international jewel thief recruits an assortment of underworld characters to rob the Museum of Antiquities in Cairo.
NOTES: Filmed on various locations in Cairo, including of course the Cairo Museum, the Sphinx and the Pyramids, as well as the villa of ex-Queen Farida. Studio scenes shot at Cairo's Arabian Studios.
Burnett's novel, "The Ashphalt Jungle", was previously filmed in 1950 under its original title.
Wolf Rilla is the son of Walter Rilla.
COMMENT: Aside from moving the background to Egypt, the only other major change in this re-make of "The Asphalt Jungle" is the complete elimination of the crooked cop (doubtless at the insistence of the Cairo authorities). This weakens the drama considerably. And although the dialogue we hear on the screen is often identical with the Huston version, this cast fails to make that dialogue half as convincing. In fact, none of the performers are a match for the original players.
Wolf Rilla's disappointingly bland direction, with its totally unwarranted emphasis on close-ups, doesn't help. Even the robbery itself is indifferently staged.
Yes, despite the promise of the ads, this rendition entirely misses the vivid vitality of the original. Only the Cairo settings impress. Egyptologists may well find the film sufficiently fascinating on that account. Others beware!
SYNOPSIS: An international jewel thief recruits an assortment of underworld characters to rob the Museum of Antiquities in Cairo.
NOTES: Filmed on various locations in Cairo, including of course the Cairo Museum, the Sphinx and the Pyramids, as well as the villa of ex-Queen Farida. Studio scenes shot at Cairo's Arabian Studios.
Burnett's novel, "The Ashphalt Jungle", was previously filmed in 1950 under its original title.
Wolf Rilla is the son of Walter Rilla.
COMMENT: Aside from moving the background to Egypt, the only other major change in this re-make of "The Asphalt Jungle" is the complete elimination of the crooked cop (doubtless at the insistence of the Cairo authorities). This weakens the drama considerably. And although the dialogue we hear on the screen is often identical with the Huston version, this cast fails to make that dialogue half as convincing. In fact, none of the performers are a match for the original players.
Wolf Rilla's disappointingly bland direction, with its totally unwarranted emphasis on close-ups, doesn't help. Even the robbery itself is indifferently staged.
Yes, despite the promise of the ads, this rendition entirely misses the vivid vitality of the original. Only the Cairo settings impress. Egyptologists may well find the film sufficiently fascinating on that account. Others beware!