The Criminal (1960)

Intro
"The Criminal" (known as "Concrete Jungle" in the USA) is a 1960 British criminal offense film directed by Joseph Losey, starring Stanley Baker. Set in post-war London, the film concentrates on ex-convict Johnny Bannion (Baker), a skilled criminal recently released from prison, who plans and executes a complex racetrack break-in, just to discover himself betrayed and back in prison.

Plot Summary
The story starts with Johnny being released from prison who is instantly drawn back into his criminal lifestyle. Regardless of cautions from prison warden, Mr. Town, Johnny masterminds a plot to steal ₤ 40,000 from a racecourse. The heist achieves success, and Johnny is depicted as a criminal mastermind, thoroughly organizing all the aspects of the heist. However, amid their event, the police raid their hideout. Johnny is arrested and sent back to prison.

Inprisoned once again, Johnny tries to keep his taken loot a trick, as it's concealed in the countryside. However, Suzanne, Johnny's girlfriend, is pushed by his criminal competitor, Mike Carter, into exposing the money's place. On the other hand, inside the prison, Johnny is dealing with increasing pressure from the inmates to reveal the whereabouts of his covert loot. Ultimately, Johnny finds out about Suzanne's betrayal and schedules her to be eliminated.

Main Characters and Performance
Stanley Baker delivers a strong performance as Johnny Bannion, a character that was composed with him in mind. Johnny is represented as a hard however vulnerable character, whose commitment to his criminal code paradoxically becomes his undoing. Sam Wanamaker plays the role of Mike Carter, the primary villain, with an ominous beauty. Margit Saad provides an exceptional representation of Suzanne, Johnny's conflicted sweetheart, who is caught in a harmful world of criminal offense.

Cinematic Style and Critique
Joseph Losey embraced a semi-documentary style for this film, that makes it unique and sensible. His unique directing design, combined with the atmospheric cinematography of Robert Krasker, creates a gritty and plain environment that mirrors the bleak outlook of Johnny Bannion's life. The movie is significant for its realism and attention to information, depicting the criminal underworld in all of its desperation and violence. "The Criminal" is also renowned for its handling of post-war British masculinity, displaying men who turn to crime and violence in a society which has cast them aside.

Conclusion
The climax of the movie takes a terrible turn. In an effort to reduce the sentence, Johnny decides to inform the police about the hidden loot. However, the prison authorities have him eliminated rather. For that reason, the story comes cycle as Johnny's short-lived freedom ends in violent death, representing possibly the inevitable doom of criminal life.

"The Criminal" is an intense research study of human nature, commitment, and power characteristics in the criminal underworld. Its dark tone and gritty realism make it a standout movie in the British noir category. Its last message is of the fruitlessness of criminal activity and the harsh inevitability of ultimate penalty.

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