Fury (1936) 7.8
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 |
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Fury (1936) 7.8
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 |
|
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Sylvia Sidney | ... |
Katherine Grant
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| Spencer Tracy | ... |
Joe Wilson
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| Walter Abel | ... |
District Attorney
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| Bruce Cabot | ... |
Kirby Dawson
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Edward Ellis | ... |
Sheriff
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| Walter Brennan | ... |
'Bugs' Meyers
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| Frank Albertson | ... |
Charlie
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George Walcott | ... |
Tom
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Arthur Stone | ... |
Durkin
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Morgan Wallace | ... |
Fred Garrett
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George Chandler | ... |
Milton Jackson
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Roger Gray | ... |
Stranger
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| Edwin Maxwell | ... |
Vickery
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Howard C. Hickman | ... |
Governor Burt
(as Howard Hickman)
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Jonathan Hale | ... |
Defense Attorney
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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. Written by Andre'a M. Thompson <athompso@ziggy.st.hmc.edu>
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).