Panic in the Streets

Panic In the Streets (1950, Fox) was directed by Elia Kazan and shot by Joe MacDonald and stars Richard Widmark, Paul Douglas, Barbara Bel Geddes, Jack Palance and Zero Mostel, with music by Alfred Newman. From the first shots of New Orleans at night through the crazed conclusion this one thrills. Widmark plays a government doctor who has to ride shotgun over a disbelieving NOPD as they chase down a murder, infected with the pneumonic plague, before he can infect the city, the state and the country. This flick features great perfomances by all the stars, with Palance and Mostel really shining at the dawn of their respective film careers. Kazan did his typical great job here, but Joe McDonald really created the perfect noir New Orleans with his games of light and shadow. Do yourselves a favor and check it out.