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The Wages of Fear
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Rating:  - William Friedkin's "Sorcerer" is VASTLY SUPERIOR
This was no doubt a suspenseful nail-biter in its day. But, come on! This film absolutely PALES next to Friedkin's astonishingly intense remake from the '70s. This film certainly stands on its own, but in light of the Friedkin remake it seems flat and and lifeless. The characters lack the desperation, the animal instinct, the tortured recklessness to do whatever it takes to get out of their South American hell. There is none of the violence, the risk-taking, the bravado of these men in Clouzot's original that would make it plausible that they would risk life and limb and drive a truck full of explosives for a measly $2000 bucks! The explosives themselves don't seem so threatening as we are rarely reminded of the extreme danger of this particular cargo. Friedkin's film never lets us forget for an instant how fragile and combustible this precious cargo is. And neither do the characters, are they are hot tempered and sweat gathers on their brows from the very beginning. Clouzot's film certainly broke ground and is a minor classic in the suspense genre, but it is Friedkin's riveting, overpowering and grim remake that is the CLASSIC. A new DVD version of Friedkin's great work (his best film, IMO) is due to be released in early 2005.
Rating:  - Wages of the Road
This is probably one of the most powerful films of all time. It was made during the time of the French new wave and existentialism thus you can only guess at the ending, it probably has a Sartrean twist. So simple a story and yet so metaphorically rich, it weaves together an element that all humans share, mainly living with each other and death.
The direction and story line is flawless and I only wish it was longer to enjoy more the vibrant quality that this film has possessed. It deals with a South American town where people of all nationalities are stuck like flies on a glue paper. Everyone wants to get out but they don't have the means or money to, work is sparse. An oil fire occurs far away at one of the oil pumping stations and the only way to put it out is to ship Nitro to it in trucks. Noticing the danger of the job, many men risk their lives for a chance at destiny.
We have Yves Montand as Mario, a young thug who is cool and keen, he hooks up with Jo (Charles Vanel) as a tough guy old man who looses his bravery once it is put to the test in the desolate jungles and back road mountains. Peter van Eyck as Bimba, a man who is not afraid to die because he has already seen it in a Nazi prison work camp. Folco Lulli is Luigi, a kind hearted and durable proletarian who is dying of rotten lungs. In one memorable scene in the bar, he is given a gun by Jo and says he will not shoot him because, "I am not a murderer". These characters are merely human in all they represent, in their weaknesses, in their flaws. We can't help but endear to all of them.The driving scenes are some of the best ever, there is excitement only because the voyage is still unknown and perhaps there is a foreshadowing that these men might not make it. It is a universal story, something so elementary and wonderful.
Rating: - An Extraordinary Adventure
I liked this film, but it is very understandable why some would not find it interesting.
It would be very easy for this film to receive treatment like that seen on MST3K, where the show's hosts make fun of the film while watching it. Not that this film deserves it, but the subtitled translations are a bit odd, mostly because there are phrasings and sayings in French which do not translate well to English.
There are also some exaggerated moments. I mean, okay, it's nitroglycerine, but the amount of fear involved seems arch. The point of the film is fear, of course, but it seems overmuch at times. I also had the sense that some dangers could have been avoided (although the point is that Jo is overly cautious, and Mario isn't).
The ending is classic, though. Not many directors would try and pull that sort of thing off these days, because these days, money is key, and endings like that tend not to make money.
So, why after my criticisms would I give the film four stars of five? Because of its uncompromising portrayal of everyday schmoes in dangerous situations. The very lack of charisma in the stars is extraordinary, and the ordinariness of the plot is extraordinary. For a film to concentrate its focus on such matters is interesting in and of itself. However, I would say this: The film caters to a sophisticated audience. Go and get tired of films, and then see this one.
Rating: - the perfect suspense film
If you have not see this film - you owe it to yourself to do so. This film was made in the early 50's but it still has the power to make you scared out of your mind - see this and Diabolique....
Rating: - Good film
This is a good film unless you are one of those who can't take foreign language movies. This is one of the few films I have seen that is in multiple languages. I mean that people from America speak English, the French speak French, the South American's speak Spanish, etc. This aspect gives it a powerful aspect of realism beyond the remake (which was also very good.)
However, the DVD version was too long at over 2 and 1/2 hours. I don't know how long the theatrical release was. The begining characterizations enhanced the feelings toward the cast as they break later in the film but it dragged. Most of these scenes really did not move the plot along. In the remake, the early characterizations were action scenes of their own and showed how the character got where they were going.
Overall, I prefer the remake, but I was a Tangerine Dream fan. However, this is clearly a good view for historical purposes.
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