The Wages of Fear (1953) Le salaire de la peur (original title)

Director:

Henri-Georges Clouzot

Writers:

Georges Arnaud (novel)
Henri-Georges Clouzot (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 February 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The complete restored version of the 1953 French classic [reissue]

Plot:

In a decrepit South American village, men are hired to transport an urgent nitroglycerine shipment without the equipment that would make it safe.

Plot Keywords:

Oil | Driver | American | Truck | Jungle

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 5 wins

Cast

Yves Montand	...	Mario
Charles Vanel	...	M. Jo
Folco Lulli	...	Luigi
Peter van Eyck	...	Bimba (as Peter Van Eyck)
Véra Clouzot	...	Linda (as Vera Clouzot)
William Tubbs	...	Bill O'Brien
Darío Moreno	...	Hernandez (as Dario Moreno)
Jo Dest	...	Smerloff
Antonio Centa	...	Camp Chief (as Centa)
Luis De Lima	...	Bernardo
Grégoire Gromoff
Joseph Palau-Fabre
Faustini
Seguna
Darling Légitimus		(as Miss Darling)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
René Baranger	...	(uncredited)
Pat Hurst	...	(uncredited)
Evelio Larenagas	...	(uncredited)
Jeronimo Mitchell	...	Dick (uncredited)
Ricardo	...	(uncredited)
François Valorbe	...	(uncredited)
Rico Zermano	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Henri-Georges Clouzot

Writing credits
Georges Arnaud		(novel)
Henri-Georges Clouzot		(adaptation and dialogue) (as H.G. Clouzot) and
Jérôme Géronimi		(adaptation and dialogue) (as Jérome Geronimi)

Produced by
Raymond Borderie	....	delegate producer (as R. Borderie)
Henri-Georges Clouzot	....	delegate producer (as H.G. Clouzot)

Original Music by
Georges Auric

Cinematography by
Armand Thirard

Film Editing by
Madeleine Gug
Etiennette Muse		(as E. Muse)
Henri Rust

Art Direction by
René Renoux

Set Decoration by
René Renoux

Makeup Department
Georges Bouban	....	makeup artist (as G. Bouban)

Production Management
Henri Jaquillard	....	unit manager (as H. Jaquillard)
Lucien Lippens	....	unit manager (as L. Lippens)
Louis Wipf	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michel Romanoff	....	assistant director
Roberto Savarese	....	assistant director: Italy

Art Department
Marc Desages	....	assistant set decorator (as M. Desages)
Pierre Tyberghein	....	assistant set decorator (as P. Tyberghien)

Sound Department
William Robert Sivel	....	sound
Arthur Van der Meeren	....	sound assistant (as A. Van Der Merren)
Pierre Zann	....	sound assistant (as P. Zann)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lucienne Chevert	....	still photographer
Jean Clouzot	....	still photographer (as J. Clouzot)
Jean Dicop	....	assistant camera (as Dicop)
Robert Florent	....	assistant camera (as Florent)
Robert Juillard	....	camera operator (as Robert Juilliard)
Jean Lallier	....	camera operator (as J. Lallier)
Louis Née	....	camera operator (as L. Née)
Bob Pater	....	assistant camera (as Pater)

Music Department
Georges Auric	....	musical director (uncredited)

Other crew
Charles Borderie	....	general administrator
Favre	....	studio manager
Lily Hargous	....	script girl
Lemoigne	....	studio manager
Vergne	....	studio manager

Production Companies

• Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique (CICC)
• Filmsonor
• Vera Films
• Fono Roma

Distributors

• Cinédis (1953) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Films Cinédis S.A.)
• Distributors Corporation of America (DCA) (1955) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Filmileijona (1955) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Home Vision Cinema (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Public Media (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Voyager Company, The (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Polyband (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Future Film (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Swenson (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Union Film (1954) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• VTI Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cinarchives  film restoration (2002)
• Ciné-Titres  subtitles
• Dyonis Films  editing facilities
• Etablissements Rey Frères  special thanks
• Filmolaque  film restoration (2002)
• La Société Lobster  audio restoration (2002)
• Société Française de l'Amiante  special thanks
• Société Française des Glycérines  special thanks
• Son Artec  sound recording

Also Known As:

"Le salaire de la peur" - France (original title)

Runtime:

131 min | France:156 min | 148 min (director's cut) | West Germany:150 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French | English | Spanish | German | Italian | Russian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 | UK:PG | Norway:16 | Australia:M | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Finland:K-18 (DVD rating) | South Korea:12 (2004) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Company:

Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique (CICC)

Trivia:

Yves Montand's first dramatic role.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As the truck leaves town, when Linda is seen from inside the truck cab, she casts a shadow on the projection screen behind her that is showing the passing houses.

Quotes:

Bill O'Brien:The Hell with the Union! There's plenty of tramps in town, all volunteers. I'm not worried. To get that bonus, they'll carry the entire charge on their backs.
Bradley:You mean you're gonna put those bums to work?
Bill O'Brien:Yes, Mr. Bradley, because those bums don't have any union, nor any families. And if they blow up, nobody'll come around bothering me for any contribution.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Wild Bunch (1969)

Soundtrack:

The Blue Danube

magnifique!

This movie is a true masterpiece in every way! When I rented the DVD and read the story it sounded familiar, because I had watched the newer version before in color with Roy Scheider, which was good as well. But watching the original film truly blew me away. This movie is well made in every detail. It puts a lot of detail-work in the creation of the characters, and once you think that is over and the "regular action-part" starts, it becomes even better and the story takes a 90 degree turn! After I had finished watching the entire movie, I needed at least 5 minutes just to "digest" it and rethink this fantastic film. If you got a chance to watch it, don't miss it! It is entertaining from the first to the last minute!