ASPHALT (1929) - ♦♦♦♦♦
Directed by - Joe May
Written by - Joe May, Hans Szekely, Rolf E. Vanloo
Starring - Betty Amann, Gustav Frohlich, Else Heller
"A wonderful German silent movie, that within the timeframe of world cinema places itself right at the end of the exciting and endlessly influential period known as German expressionism and was one of the last great masterpieces of the German silent era.
It is a point of argument that this Joe May feature is also the earliest most complete film noir ever made, therefore standing as catalyst between the lights and shadows of expressionsm that would shape one of the most prominent and popular genres of the big screen in American cinema, deeply formed by the mass exodus of European cinema across the Atlantic.
The story of Asphalt is rather simple, and it is that of a strong willed cop whose passionate beliefs in the law turn shaky when his integrity is comprimised after he falls helplessly in love with a beautiful jewel thief temptress - the femme fatale.
The photography is excellent and clearly represent a culmination of the stylistic experimentation that had come before it. Even the city of Berlin, so advanced and always more industrial and urban, constantly moving, seems to have been shaped by the city symphony films and remains a significant theme as well as a priceless snapshot of an evolving society.
All this flatters the seemingly simple storyline, that is nevertheless hypnotic and charged with plenty of fiery sexuality. This is particularly true of the remarkable scene in which the jewel thief takes the cop back to her house and seduces him - one of the most intense highly sexual encounters in the history of cinema. On top of this, however, it also clearly reveals the manipulative power of cinema, and challenges the viewer's ideas on morality with its story and the choices the characters make during the course of the film's duration.
In light of the constant celebration of names such as Murnau, Lang and Siodmak, Asphalt still feels respected and yet underrated. Despite this, it is a gem well worth re-discovering."
Noir, Germany
