THE HUMAN JUNGLE

US, 1954, 78 minutes, Black and white.
Gary Merrill, Jan Sterling, Paula Raymond, Emile Meyer, Regis Toomey, Lamont Johnson, Chuck Connors.
Directed by Joseph M. Newman.

The Human Jungle is one of many films about police work in an anonymous American city. It is in the tradition of The Naked City and anticipates the 87th Precinct novels by Ed McBain?. There is focus on the workings of the police precinct, the clashes between personnel in the precinct, the investigations, the interrogations of suspects. It is brief, straightforward. Gary Merrill gives a rather humourless performance as the policeman-turned-lawyer who offers to clean up the precinct. Jan Sterling is a trampish singer at a nightclub. Chuck Connors as a murderer. The film is typical of the material of the 50s - which was soon to move onto the small screen in television series.

1. A story of a police precinct? Police investigation and work in an American city of the 50s? Black and white photography? Sense of realism, almost documentary-like?

2. The title, John Danforth and his perspective on human nature, crime in the city, the enemy, its needing to be rooted out?

3. John Danforth himself, part-time studies, policeman become lawyer? His relationship with his wife, her patience, his edginess, apologies to her? Her character, supportive, ten years of marriage? His visiting the precinct, his implied criticism, his attitude towards the prevalence of crime? His thinking superior officers were too soft? Harrison and his giving the money to the young punks, letting them off? The criticisms and his being offered the job, his taking the job of command?

4. His manner of command, tough, relentless, lacking human personnel resource techniques? His criticisms of the officers, getting them to work? Their grudging admiration? His being a man of action, on the spot? The young officer who admired him shooting somebody by accident in the street, his having to cope? The relationship with the press, hostility and reserve?

5. The murder, the young woman, the investigation, the club, her singing? Swados and his having an alibi, Mary Abbott? His being interrogated?

6. Swados, his character, Mary Abbott, lying for him? Her interrogations, at the club, not wanting to cooperate, Danforth and the pressures, her singing, the clientele, the owner? Her giving information, being directed to an address in order to be killed?

7. The owner of the clubs, his keeping behind the scenes, his power, wealth, shady lawyer, Mandy as manager of the club, hiring the killer, arranging crimes behind the scenes?

8. Danforth, his being investigated, the criticisms in the hearing, police in the pay of criminals?

9. Lanigan, surliness, his going on the beat, decision to help Danforth? Strauss, learning procedure, enthusiasm, the shooting in the street?

10. The veterans, his assistant, their advice, going into action? The clues, the interrogations, the results?

11. The 1950s, this type of semi-documentary drama, the need for getting rid of criminals, the need for cleaning up the police precincts? The background of the McCarthy? period, authoritarian stances which were admired?