The Criminal

The Criminal (released in the United States as The Concrete Jungle) is a 1960 British neo-noir crime film directed by Joseph Losey and starring Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Grégoire Aslan, Jill Bennett, and Margit Saad. Baker plays Johnny Bannion, a recently-paroled gangster (patterned after Albert Dimes) who is sent back to prison after robbing a racetrack, with both the authorities and the criminal underworld looking for the money. Alun Owen wrote the screenplay, from a story by an uncredited Jimmy Sangster. John Dankworth composed the musical score, with a title song sung by Cleo Laine. The ensemble supporting cast features Jill Bennett, Rupert Davies, Laurence Naismith, Patrick Magee and Murray Melvin in his film debut. The film is noted for its harsh and violent portrayal of prison life, led it to be banned in several countries, including Finland and Ireland. Plot Johnny Bannion is a career criminal with an entourage of minor criminals and fast girls. After being paroled from a three-year stint in prison, he begins planning his "comeback" - a racetrack heist for £40,000. He successfully plans and executes the robbery with the help of his partner, a well-connected American named Mike Carter (Sam Wanamaker). Unbeknownst to him, the racetrack is owned by another gangster. Word is spread of his responsibility, he's double-crossed by his associates, and he is sent back to prison, where he is a well known figure.