The Wages of Fear (1953)

About The Wages of Fear

The Wages of Fear is a French-Italian production released in 1953 and directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. Based on Georges Arnaud's 1950 French novel "Le Salaire de la peur", the movie entails a high-stakes narrative about a group of desperate men risking their lives to transport a cargo of nitroglycerin across treacherous South American jungle terrain.

Making / Production

The production of The Wages of Fear was quite challenging due to the suspenseful and dangerous situations depicted in the film. It was shot in both France and Mexico under the supervision of its noted French director, Henri-Georges Clouzot.

Actors

• Yves Montand as Mario - Montand vividly portrayed the handsome but reckless lead, Mario, whose desperation brought on by his dire circumstances drives his performance.
• Charles Vanel as Jo - Playing the character of Jo, Vanel delivered an impressive performance as a tough and experienced, but morally ambiguous, worker.
• Folco Lulli as Luigi - In the role of Luigi, Lulli provides a reliable yet riveting portrayal of a man clinging onto his last hope for financial security.
• Peter van Eyck as Bimba - Bringing Bimba to life, van Eyck's measured portrayal added much-needed stability and balance to the volatile group dynamic.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Wages of Fear is considered one of the greatest thrillers ever made, adored for its real-time suspense and its unforgiving look at the human condition.
• Due to its bleak and controversial depiction of desperate men, the film was initially censored in different countries.
• American director William Friedkin produced a remake in 1977 entitled "Sorcerer."

Awards

The Wages of Fear won the prestigious Palm d'Or at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival's Golden Bear in the same year, bolstering its status as a classic in world cinema.

Quotes

• "Wherever there's oil, there's Americans." - Jo
• "Fear is something you get used to." - Mario

Music, Soundtrack

• The suspenseful and moody score was orchestrated by composer Georges Auric, whose other work includes music for movies like "Moulin Rouge" (1952) and "Roman Holiday" (1953).