| Panic in the Streets | |
|---|---|
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Panic_in_the_Streets_(1950).jpg) Theatrical release publicity artwork poster | |
| Directed by | Elia Kazan |
| Screenplay by | Richard Murphy Daniel Fuchs |
| Story by | Edna Anhalt Edward Anhalt |
| Produced by | Sol C. Siegel |
| Starring | Richard Widmark Paul Douglas Barbara Bel Geddes Jack Palance Zero Mostel |
| Cinematography | Joseph MacDonald |
| Edited by | Harmon Jones |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | 20th Century Fox |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,400,000[1] |
Panic in the Streets is a 1950 American medical-themed film noir thriller, directed by Elia Kazan and released by 20th Century Fox. It was shot exclusively on location in New Orleans, Louisiana, and features numerous scenes around the city and Port of New Orleans along the Mississippi River and showing various New Orleans citizens in speaking and non-speaking roles.[2]
The film tells the story of Lieutenant Commander Clinton Reed (Richard Widmark), an officer of the U.S. Public Health Service, and Captain Tom Warren (Paul Douglas), a grizzled veteran detective of the New Orleans Police Department. The men have only a day or two of frantic intense search and interviews in which to prevent a greater outbreak of a deadly epidemic of pneumonic plague (a form of the pandemic disease known as the "Black Death" in Medieval Europe), after Reed determines a waterfront homicide victim is also an index case and the first to be found carrying the disease. The supporting cast includes Barbara Bel Geddes as Reed's wife Nancy, along with Jack Palance (in his film debut) and Zero Mostel – the latter two play crooks, associates of the victim who had prompted the public health investigation. The film was also the debut of Tommy Rettig, best known for playing Jeff Miller in the early seasons of the television series Lassie, who appears as the Reeds' son.
The film was released later on DVD format by 20th Century Fox as part of the "Fox Film Noir collection", along with Laura and Call Northside 777, on March 15, 2005.
The score was composed by Alfred Newman.
The film was originally named Port of Entry, subsequently later as Outbreak, and ultimately Panic in the Streets.[3]
- ^ Memo from Darryl F Zanuck to Elia Kazan 1 July 1952, Memo from Darryl F. Zanuck, Grove Press, 1993 p 214
- ^ Panic in the Streets at IMDb.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2019-02-14.