Panic in the Streets (film)

Panic in the Streets
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	September 15, 1950 (1950-09-15)
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]