Review of The Wages of Fear (1953) by James M — 07 Jan 2014
Classic multilingual adventure with most of the dialogue in Spanish, French & Italian, with the odd sentence or two in English.
The first hour drags a little, building character and suspense for what lies ahead.
The story concerns a group of Europeans in a small South American village, unemployed after building works ceased. With no money to return home, they accept a job transporting a cargo of nitroglycerin across a trecherous mountain route where hazards impede their progress at every turn, with some genuine, nail-biting moments of tension.
Director Henri-Georges Clouzet has often been referred to as the French Alfred Hitchcock. I've only seen two of his movies (this and Les Diaboliques) but on that evidence alone I can understand why.
Remade in 1977 as Sorceror, I doubt the remake is nearly as powerful as this masterpiece of world cinema.
This review of The Wages of Fear (1953) was written by James M on 07 January 2014.
The Wages of Fear has generally received very positive reviews.
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