The Wages of Fear (1953)

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Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot

Writers: Henri-Georges Clouzot and Jerome Geronimi, from a novel by Georges Arnaud

Stars: Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Folco Lulli, Peter van Eyck, Vera Clouzot, William Tubbs, Dario Moreno, Jo Dest, Antonio Centa



Four men (Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Folco Lulli, and Peter van Eyck), desperate for the funds required to book passage out of the dead end South American town where they languish, agree to transport a highly volatile cargo of nitroglycerine needed to extinguish an oil well fire. 



Director Henri-Georges Clouzot's classic French thriller takes too long to get going but eventually turns into a first-rate nail-biter.

 


It presents a grim view of humanity in a world determined by exploitative relationships.

 


The American oil company exploits the desperation of the aimless Europeans trapped in lives of ennui because they are desperate enough to take a job that the unionized American workers will not.

 


Our protagonist, Mario (Montand), exploits Linda (Vera Clouzot), the woman who loves him, by slapping her around and treating her dismissively, perhaps because he projects the anger and self-loathing he feels about his situation onto her. 



Once the truck journey begins, everything except the moment ceases to matter, as the drivers endure a psychologically and physically grueling test of endurance in which they could die at any moment without warning.

























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