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Panic in the Streets (film)

Panic in the Streets
Panic in the Streets (1950).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Elia Kazan
Produced by Sol C. Siegel
Screenplay by Richard Murphy
Daniel Fuchs
Story by Edna Anhalt
Edward Anhalt
Starring Richard Widmark
Paul Douglas
Barbara Bel Geddes
Jack Palance
Zero Mostel
Music by Alfred Newman
Cinematography Joseph MacDonald
Edited by Harmon Jones
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • June 12, 1950 (1950-06-12) (United States)
Running time
96 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1,400,000

Panic in the Streets is a 1950 film noir directed by Elia Kazan. It was shot exclusively on location in New Orleans, Louisiana and features numerous New Orleans citizens in speaking and non-speaking roles.

The film tells the story of Clinton Reed, an officer of the U.S. Public Health Service (played by Richard Widmark) and a police captain (Paul Douglas) who have only a day or two in which to prevent an epidemic of pneumonic plague after Reed determines a waterfront homicide victim is an index case. Co-stars include Barbara Bel Geddes (as Reed's wife Nancy), Jack Palance (in his film debut) and Zero Mostel – the latter two play associates of the victim who had prompted the investigation. The film was also the debut of Tommy Rettig, who played the Reeds' son.

The film was released on DVD on March 15, 2005 by 20th Century Fox as part of the Fox Film Noir collection, along with Laura and Call Northside 777.

The score was composed by Alfred Newman.

After brawling over a card game in the wharf area of New Orleans, a man named Kochak (Lewis Charles), suffering visibly from a flu-like illness, is killed by gangster Blackie (Jack Palance) and his two flunkies, Kochak's cousin Poldi (Guy Thomajan) and a man named Fitch (Zero Mostel). They leave the body on the docks, and later when the dead man, who carries no identification, is brought to the morgue, the coroner grows suspicious about the bacteria present in his blood and calls Lieutenant Commander Clinton Reed (Richard Widmark), a doctor working for the U.S. Public Health Service. Reed is enjoying a rare day off with his wife Nancy (Barbara Bel Geddes) and their son Tommy (Tommy Rettig), but decides to inspect the body.


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