Crime in the Streets

Crime in the Streets
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDon Siegel
Written byReginald Rose
Produced byVincent M. Fennelly
StarringJames Whitmore
John Cassavetes
Sal Mineo
CinematographySam Leavitt
Music byFranz Waxman
Distributed byAllied Artists
Release date
  • June 10, 1956 (1956-06-10)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$280,000
Box office$1.2 million (US)
$300,000 (foreign)

Crime in the Streets is a 1956 American crime drama film about juvenile delinquency directed by Don Siegel and based on a television play written by Reginald Rose. The play first appeared as an episode of The Elgin Hour directed by Sidney Lumet before being remade as a feature film directed by Don Siegel.

The film, starring James Whitmore and John Cassavetes, also featured actor Sal Mineo, who had previously appeared in Rebel Without a Cause. From his role in Crime in the Streets, Mineo earned a Hollywood nickname, "The Switchblade Kid". Malcolm Atterbury, Virginia Gregg, and future director Mark Rydell had prominent roles.

Siegel adapted the play to a film by expanding some sequences but keeping much of the same cast. His credited dialogue coach on the film was Sam Peckinpah.