Loneliness in "The Asphalt Jungle"

     John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle (1950) seems to have an underlying theme of loneliness. This is often shown through the narrative and the mise-en-scene. The most obvious example of this is Mrs. Emmerich (Dorothy Tree), given her desire to spend time with her husband and get out of the house. She is also only ever shown lying alone, lost in a bed that is intended for two people. However, this underlying theme of loneliness follows the other characters throughout the film as well.

     In the opening sequence of the film, Dix (Sterling Hayden) is shown running through a big, empty city alone. The angles of the shots used in this sequence, reminiscent of German Expressionism, further emphasize this feeling of loneliness by showing more of the landscape and how there is no one else around. These angles also help to create a subjective feeling of anxiety that Dix is feeling as he is running from the police.

(Shots from opening sequence)

     Dix’s loneliness follows him to the end of the film. Even when Doll (Jean Hagen) is with him, it is clear that Dix has no interest in her being around, but rather seems to take pity in her loneliness and lets her come with him. However, when Dix dies, he is shown alone in the shot. As he approaches the farmhouse and falls, Doll is not in the frame. As soon as she does enter the frame, she almost immediately runs out and leaves Dix with the horses, as if to signify that the only companionship Dix ever needed was that of a horse.

     Another depiction of loneliness comes with the conversation between Doc (Sam Jaffe) and Cobby (Marc Lawrence) after paying Louis. While Cobby and Doc are in the same room, they are shown sitting very far from each other. This shows that even though the characters in the film are interacting with each other, there are few personal connections being made.

     Perhaps the most interesting case of loneliness in the film is that of Mr. Emmerich (Louis Calhern). However, Emmerich seems to be unwilling to face this loneliness. With no romance left in his marriage, he has a relationship with Angela (Marilyn Monroe); however even that relationship seems to be unfulfilling. This is shown through the rather passionless kiss the two share before Angela goes to bed. Emmerich finally faces his loneliness near the end of the film with his suicide. The mere thought of going prison for any period of time, totally alone and surrounded by men unlike him, forces Emmerich to accept the fact that he seems to be destined to be alone.

     Doc seems to be the most accepting of his loneliness. After being in prison for as long as he was, he seems to long the presence of women, looking at the calendar in Cobby’s place, talking about chasing girls in Mexico, and watching the girl dance in the restaurant on the way to Cleveland. However, he does not seem to act on his desires, merely talking to a prostitute instead of doing anything else. While he does ask Dix to accompany him to Mexico, Doc seems to prefer to be alone, having always planned on traveling to Mexico alone.

Submitted by Michael Levy