The plot of The Asphalt Jungle is based on the novel by W.R. Burnett. It is set in a big (unnamed) city in the American Mid West and follows a group of people engaged in various criminal activities. Sam Jaffe plays 'Doc' Riedenschneider a criminal who became a underworld legend because of his methodically planned heists. After being released from prison, Doc wants to put one of his old plans (the robbery of jewellery store) into action, but he needs personnel and someone to finance the operation. He is approached by Alonzo P. Emmerich (played by Louis Calhern), a lawyer with criminal connections, Doc then assembles his robbery-crew. The safe-cracker is Louis Ciavelli (played by Anthony Caruso). He accepts the job because he needs the money to feed his family. The "muscleman", Dix Handley (played by Sterling Hayden), is a violent street-robber who needs money to pay gambling debts, and the getaway driver is Gus Minissi (played by James Whitmore), and Dix's only friend. The heist, goes wrong, and it appears that the criminals are in danger of being robbed themselves.