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Panic in the Streets

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97% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
After Dr. Clint Reed (Richard Widmark) is called in to supervise an autopsy of an unknown man, he discovers that the John Doe died of pneumonic plague. Revealing his discovery to the mayor and city officials, Reed is informed that he has 48 hours before the public will be told about a potential outbreak. Joined by Captain Tom Warren (Paul Douglas) and his wife, Nancy (Barbara Bel Geddes), Reed must race against time to find out where the unknown man came from.
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Panic in the Streets

Critics Reviews

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Gavin Lambert Sight & Sound 09/25/2021
It has not only a particularly good story, but a sharpness and flexibility of observation in the writing and handling that occasionally makes it more than a melodrama about a city under the threat of plague. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 11/01/2007
There is vivid action, nice human touches and some bizarre moments. Jack Palance gives a sharp performance. Go to Full Review Tom Milne Time Out 06/24/2006
A classy thriller, much less laden with significance than most Kazan movies. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 11/22/2022
[Elia] Kazan makes great use of the New Orleans locations and atmosphere and takes the viewer into seedier parts of the city than usually seen in Hollywood films set in the city. Go to Full Review Jean-Luc Godard La Gazette du Cinéma 09/02/2021
An intelligent renewal of the thriller form, in which the plot unfolds hand in hand with the spreading of a plague. Go to Full Review Dudley Early Austin American-Statesman 09/02/2020
4/4
If you are n fingernail chewer, the excitement and suspense of this film will have you eating your nails down to the knuckle. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D 04/03/2024 Better in theory than execution. See more dave s 01/21/2023 Often lost in the shadows of his better-known classics, Elia Kazan's Panic in the Streets is an overlooked gem. Set in New Orleans, Dr. Clint Reed (Richard Widmark) assists police in the search for a killer (Jack Palance) after a murdered man is found to be a carrier of pneumonic plague. More relevant today than ever before, it is a tightly knit thriller that follows the authorities in their race against time to prevent a deadly epidemic. With the exception of a few secondary characters, the acting is stellar throughout, especially from Widmark and Palance in the lead roles. If interested in the body of work from the legendary director beyond A Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront, Panic in the Streets is must-see viewing. See more 06/20/2021 it was odd to see this movie for the first time in 2021 See more 05/13/2020 One part germinal pandemic thriller, one part early buddy cop procedural, perhaps the most prescient part of Kazan's taut and naturalistic drama is how it predicts the dismissal by officials of scientific evidence. See more paul d @PaulusLoZebra 04/17/2020 A great movie to watch when in quarantine for COVID-19 in 2020! This is a fine film, a well-done mix of crime thriller, social commentary and human drama. Widmark and Marshall are very good, but it is Zero Mostel and above all Jack Palance that provide zest and unpredictability every time they are on the screen. And the City of New Orleans itself is a great character in the film as well. See more eat m @BroadArrow 11/27/2019 Epic chase scene through coffee warehouses. See more Read all reviews
Panic in the Streets

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Cast & Crew

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Elia Kazan

Director

Richard Widmark

Lt. Cmdr. Clinton 'Clint' Reed M.D

Paul Douglas

Capt. Tom Warren

Barbara Bel Geddes

Nancy Reed

Jack Palance

Blackie

Zero Mostel

Raymond Fitch

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Panic in the Streets

Panic in the Streets (1950) Panic in the Streets (1950) Panic in the Streets (1950) Panic in the Streets (1950) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After Dr. Clint Reed (Richard Widmark) is called in to supervise an autopsy of an unknown man, he discovers that the John Doe died of pneumonic plague. Revealing his discovery to the mayor and city officials, Reed is informed that he has 48 hours before the public will be told about a potential outbreak. Joined by Captain Tom Warren (Paul Douglas) and his wife, Nancy (Barbara Bel Geddes), Reed must race against time to find out where the unknown man came from.
Director
Elia Kazan
Screenwriter
Richard Murphy, Daniel Fuchs
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 12, 1950, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2012
Runtime
1h 33m
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