Interview with assistant director Michel Romanoff, Interview with Clouzot autobiographer Mark Godin, Interview with star Yves Montand, Henri-Georges Clouzot - The Enlightened Tyrant, Censored, Criterion booklet

The Wages of Fear is directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot and stars Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Peter van Eyck, and Antonio Centa. The musical score is composed by Georges Auric. ***

Stranded in a South American oil mining town without the funds or papers to get out, four men agree to take on a well-paying but dangerous job - driving trucks loaded with nitro glycerin to a recent fire site. Knowing it could be their only way out, the foursome take two trucks and begin heading down treacherous roads on which a single mistake or accident could spell instant death. ***

The first third of this film tends to drag out endlessly, introducing us to the characters well but taking too much time to do so. But if you can endure that first (often tedious) act, you'll be rewarded by some of the greatest suspense-ridden moments to ever grace the silver screen. ***

While suspense is the name of the game in The Wages of Fear, the film is as much a character drama as it is a suspense thriller. We are introduced to the characters early on, and quickly realize their situation and relationships. This becomes all the more important as the tension on the path to the oil fire site increases and these relationships change substantially, and not always for the better. This is a grim, gritty film that paints an ugly, realistic picture and makes no apologies for its nature. It is morbid throughout, and rightfully so. And that is what makes it a classic. It's no surprise that the film maintains a strong reputation as a classic, and even spawned an American remake entitled Sorcerer, directed by William Friedkin and starring Roy Scheider. ---

Image And Sound:

Again, Criterion has given us a superb remastering job. Tons of dirt, debris, and print damage have been removed. Throughout, the image is very clear and well-detailed. Grain is visible throughout but never a distraction. The image is supported nicely by a lossless mono soundtrack. Hands down, the best the film has ever looked or sounded on a home video format.

As usual, Criterion opens the gates and unleashes a good deal of entertaining supplemental material. Interviews are aplenty on this disc, and the interviewees include a Clouzot biographer, the assistant director, and one of the film's stars. Also included is a featurette focusing on Clouzot, and one on the censorship that faced the film during its initial stateside release. And as with all Criterion releases, an informative booklet is included as well.

Final Words: