notes on The Asphalt Jungle

Two observations while watching The Asphalt Jungle tonight.

1) I'm more convinced of something that I previously felt, that Jean Hagen gives a terrific performance in Singin in the Rain. That's because her character here is so different from her blonde ditz. There really are only two ways to be a good blonde ditz on a screen - be a real-life one (see: Cameron "Cinematography" Diaz) or be a very good actress. My sense is that Hagen is the latter.

2) For an actress with modest talent whose career only lasted a decade or so, Marilyn Monroe had a habit of getting into movies that have worn well with time. All About Eve, The Asphalt Jungle, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Some Like It Hot, The Misfits. Probably other things that I'm not thinking of. That's about one every couple years. Not a bad rate.