The Sound of Fury (1950)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Cy Endfield

Writers:

Jo Pagano (written by)
Jo Pagano (novel)

Release Date:

12 December 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Film-Noir | Drama

Tagline:

A blonde with ice cold nerves and deep warm curves !

Plot:

A man down on his luck falls in with a criminal. After a senseless murder, the two are lynched. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Frank Lovejoy	...	Howard Tyler
Kathleen Ryan	...	Judy Tyler
Richard Carlson	...	Gil Stanton
Lloyd Bridges	...	Jerry Slocum
Katherine Locke	...	Hazel Weatherwax
Adele Jergens	...	Velma
Art Smith	...	Hal Clendenning
Renzo Cesana	...	Dr. Vito Simone
Irene Vernon	...	Helen Stanton
Cliff Clark	...	Sheriff Lem Demig
Harry Shannon	...	Mr. Yaeger
Donald Smelick	...	Tommy Tyler

Also Known As:

Try and Get Me (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:Approved (certificate #14754) | UK:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Robert Stillman Productions

Trivia:

Joe E. Ross' first movie.

Movie Connections:

Version of Fury (1936)

Strong first half (mainly thanks to Bridges) but the potential in the second half is not delivered on as well as I wanted even if it is still impacting

When Howard Tyler moved his family out west to California, he did not plan for unemployment to push them as close to breaking point as it has. Down on his luck, Howard is hanging out in a bowling lane when he meets the charismatic and generous Jerry Slocum. Slocum offers him a job that will pay really well and Howard gratefully accepts. When he learns that he is the driver in the robbery of a grocery store, he has misgivings but none that cannot be drowned out by the relief of having plenty of money in his pocket for the first time in years. However one thing leads to another and it is not long before Howard finds himself exceeding what he is willing to accept being part of but yet unable to get out.

A late night "noir" double bill on channel 4 caused me to stumble across this film despite never having heard of it before. Although not strictly a noir, the film is an effective drama that does rely on the "normal" guy drawn into a destructive world of crime. The plot offers lots of potential in the dark content and is still good even if it doesn't really deliver on it. The narrative focuses on Howard's descent and I was surprised by morally quite how simplistic it all was. Howard's inability to deal with what he does is straightforward and the clear fate served him by the script is also quite easy. The media plays a part in the shape of journalist Gil Stanton and I hoped this would produce something of real insight but mostly he and other characters seem to exist to vocalise the moralising part of the script. They do make more of it towards the end but I wanted more in the way of consistency.

The moralising and simplicity across the film does rather make for a weaker second half but the "descent" is by far the best part of the film. In terms of delivery it offers more dramatic scenes but this also means more meat for the actors to work with. Lovejoy's desperation but yet conflict is written across his performance and at its best is pretty good. Unfortunately for him, he is totally in the shadow of a really enjoyable turn from Lloyd Bridges. Bridges is cool, arrogant, angry, slick, vain, violent and unpredictable and he is easily the most memorable part of the film. Inexplicable then that the script lets him disappear for the vast majority of the second half of the film – his absence is felt. Carlson tries to be the heart of the later debate but he cannot do it and comes over quite insincere and simplistic. Ryan, Locke, Jergens and others are so-so.

Overall then this is an interesting moral drama that has plenty of good moments in the first half and plenty of potential in the second half's moralising. Bridges and Lovejoy deliver well in the first half. While it is a real shame that the second half feels weak, simplistic and no where near as intelligent and challenging as I wanted it to be, it is still pretty dark and interesting for the period and should be recognised for that.