With the world under house arrest during the Coronavirus pandemic, everyone is sitting home and watching Netflix. By now, everyone has probably watched Contagion and Outbreak a dozen or so times as they are two films that deal with similar themes we are grappling with today.

But there is another film that is likely not getting enough love.

1950’s Panic in the Streets.

From Google:

“After Dr. Clint Reed (Richard Widmark) is called in to supervise an autopsy of a 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.”

I personally enjoyed this film. You can’t get any better than Widmark and Douglas and the excellent direction of Elia Kazan! It also stars Jack Palance.

Here is the trailer:

Imagine if the Coronavirus struck the world back then? Yikes!