Fury (1936)

When a prisoner barely survives a lynch mob attack and is presumed dead, he vindictively decides to frame the mob for his murder.

Director:

Fritz Lang

Writers:

Bartlett Cormack (screenplay), Fritz Lang (screenplay),

Stars:

Sylvia Sidney, Spencer Tracy, Walter Abel

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sylvia Sidney	...	Katherine Grant
Spencer Tracy	...	Joe Wilson
Walter Abel	...	District Attorney
Bruce Cabot	...	Kirby Dawson
Edward Ellis	...	Sheriff
Walter Brennan	...	'Bugs' Meyers
Frank Albertson	...	Charlie
George Walcott	...	Tom
Arthur Stone	...	Durkin
Morgan Wallace	...	Fred Garrett
George Chandler	...	Milton Jackson
Roger Gray	...	Stranger
Edwin Maxwell	...	Vickery
Howard C. Hickman	...	Governor Burt (as Howard Hickman)
Jonathan Hale	...	Defense Attorney

Storyline

Based on the story "Mob Rule" by Norman Krasna. Joe Wilson and Katherine Grant are in love, but he doesn't have enough money for them to get married. So Katherine moves across the country to make money. Through the course of the movie, Fritz Lang shows us how a decent and once civilized man can become a ruthless and bitter man.

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Plot Keywords:

money | mob | murder | lynch mob | jail | 

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Taglines:

TWO LOVERS...VICTIMS OF MOB VIOLENCE! (original 1936 window card poster)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 May 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mob Rule

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 92 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was actress Sylvia Sidney's only film for MGM, and according to the papers of director Fritz Lang, he stipulated that she be cast in the part before he signed his contract with the studio.

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Goofs

During a montage that shows the passing of several days, Sylvia Sidney is wearing the same dress the entire time.

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Quotes

Joe Wilson: The mob doesn't think. It has no mind of its own.

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Connections

Featured in Fejezetek a film történetéböl: Amerikai filmtípusok - Egyén és társadalom (1989)

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Soundtracks

"There's No More Trouble for Me"
(uncredited)
Composer Unknown
Sung a cappella by Edna Mae Harris

User Reviews

A mob of All-American peasants are out to burn Spencer Tracy at the stake (and his little dog too)

A compelling "message picture" with good performances from both Sylvia Sidney and Spencer Tracy and deft direction from Fritz Lang. 'Fury' is tautly dramatic and not without lessons for a modern audience, but it still falls just a little short of masterpiece status.

This was Lang's first American film, the studios were presumably in fierce competition to sign him to a contract and seems clear that MGM was quite proud of itself and thought they could safely fit the Austrian master into their mold while also revisiting some of his past successes. 'Fury' is by no means a remake of 'M' but it does share some key themes. However, the style is a marked departure from the director's German work and the Hollywood treatment keeps this film from being as compelling as its older brother.

Hailing from the Midwest as I do, the Hooterville Junction take on small-town America rankled with me a bit. Gossipy housewives and self-important businessmen are played for laughs and then suddenly turn into a howling mob bent on the death of a man against whom the "evidence" is literally peanuts. It's a serious matter, as we're later reminded by the prosecutor's speech about the number of lynchings in America's then recent history, it should never have been treated lightly.

Do watch it though, and keep an eye out for a very familiar Cairn terrier. Also, early on when Joe and Katherine are looking at bedroom furniture there's a distinct chuckle at the expense of the Hays Code (which was enforced starting in '34).