[Quick Summary: When a jewelry heist goes wrong, a net closes in on the crooked cop, the financier, a hooligan, and the brain.]
I was fascinated by this 20 min. video about Asphalt Jungle's visual style.
I was particularly interested in the complex diner scene (at 12:35-14:48): 3 men, a cat, shifts from foreground, background, 2 shot, ceiling, etc.
Was it like that on the page? In short, yes and no.
Yes, the conflict was there. No, the staging and composition were not.
However, because the writers* did their jobs and created great conflict on the page, the director and cinematographer had great building blocks to do their jobs.
Here's what that conflict looked like on the page:
MED. SHOT - INT. GUS'S HAMBURGER JOINT - NIGHT
A truck driver stands at the magazine rack, eating a king-sized hamburger and stealing looks at the girl pictures in a movie magazine. The cat jumps on to the counter and Gus starts feeding him meat, bite by bite. Dix enters. He and Gus exchange nods. Dix takes a seat at the counter.
...TRUCK DRIVER: How do you mean, Humpty-Dumpty?
GUS: I mean you don't belong around here. You're just passing through - only not fast enough.
Gus comes around the counter with surprising speed. He seizes the truck driver by the arm; whirls him around; grabs the seat of his pants; jerks it up tight until the big fellow is on his tip-toes; then "Spanish walks" him swiftly to the front door, where he gives the flabbergasted driver a push.
GUS: And if I ever see you running over a cat, I'll kick your teeth out.
The driver stands staring at Gus, trying to recover from the surprise attack. He is unable to make up his mind whether to clout the little hunchback or beat a dignified retreat.
DRIVER: I'd take you apart if you were a foot taller, and straightened out a little.
Gus steps toward the driver, carrying his hands low. The driver hurriedly gets into his truck. Gus comes back into his join. Dix watches Gus turn the lock in the door, and pull the window blinds. Dix is smiling for a change.
GUS: I suppose you want your heater back? Well, you ain't goin' to get it! What do you think of that?
DIX: Quit kidding Gus!
GUS: I mean it...
Dix stops smiling.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Help your collaborators. Keep the conflict moving on the page.
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
by Ben Maddow and John Huston
Based on the novel by W.R. Burnett
*FYI: One of the writers was also the director, so that was helpful.
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