Four unfortunate men from different parts of the globe agree to risk their lives transporting gallons of nitroglycerin across dangerous Latin American jungle.Four unfortunate men from different parts of the globe agree to risk their lives transporting gallons of nitroglycerin across dangerous Latin American jungle.Four unfortunate men from different parts of the globe agree to risk their lives transporting gallons of nitroglycerin across dangerous Latin American jungle.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
20K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Walon Green(screenplay)
- Georges Arnaud(novel "The Wages of Fear")
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Walon Green(screenplay)
- Georges Arnaud(novel "The Wages of Fear")
- Stars
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 nominations total
Videos2
Friedrich von Ledebur
- 'Carlos'as 'Carlos'
- (as Fredrick Ledebur)
Chico Martínez
- Bobby Del Riosas Bobby Del Rios
- (as Chico Martinez)
Anne-Marie Deschodt
- Blancheas Blanche
- (as Anne Marie Descott)
Jacques François
- Lefevreas Lefevre
- (as Jacques Francois)
- Director
- Writers
- Walon Green(screenplay)
- Georges Arnaud(novel "The Wages of Fear")
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
A gangster, a crooked banker, a hit man and an Arab terrorist are stranded and on the run in a small village in South America. Their only chance of escape is to drive two trucks filled with unstable dynamite (leaking nitroglycerin) up a long and rocky mountain road in order to plug an escalating oil refinery blaze. With their deadly cargo likely to explode at the slightest bump, the four men must put aside their differences and work together to survive. —John Stetson
- Taglines
- Die "Really" Hard
- Genres
- Certificate
- R
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaDirector William Friedkin initially wanted Steve McQueen to star in the film. McQueen accepted the part, but on one condition--he wanted a co-starring role for his then wife, Ali MacGraw. Friedkin would not accept his conditions, and McQueen dropped out of the film. Friedkin later went on record, regretting not accepting McQueen's conditions. He tried to get Clint Eastwood or Jack Nicholson, but neither wanted to travel at that time. He stated that casting Roy Scheider in the lead was the worst casting decision he has ever made. Although he felt Scheider is a good actor who did a great job, he is only interesting in a film as a "second or third banana, he's not a star." Amidou, who played the Arab Kassem/"Martinez", was Friedkin's only real first choice--all the other actors were "fourth, fifth and even sixth choices."
- GoofsWhen Sorcerer is attempting to cross the dilapidated wooden bridge, a shot of the outermost log falling away is used twice.
- Crazy creditsThe only opening credits at the beginning of the film are the studios' names followed by the film's graffiti style font title. Although by the late 1990's it was quite common to not have credits at the beginning of a film, in 1977 it was very unusual.
- Alternate versionsThe European version of the film was re-edited and shortened by CIC, the European distributor, without director William Friedkin's permission. The prologue sequences set in New York, Paris, Vera Cruz and Israel that show what happened to the main characters and why they had to flee to South America, were changed to flashbacks running throughout the film.
- SoundtracksSpheres (Movement 3)
Performed by Keith Jarrett
Used under license from Polydor Incorporated and through the courtesy of ECM Records
Top review
Friedkin's 3rd best film
An underrated film with a typically stellar Roy Scheider performance, an eerie Tangerine Dream soundtrack, and brilliant visuals. This film's reputation suffers from its inexplicable title and unfavorable comparisons to the original. But it's useless to compare since this film is an altogether different beast. Friedkin gives it his usual nihilist/fatalist/existential stamp, making it a much darker film than the French version. Very suspenseful and well-made. Made by Friedkin at the height of his powers. His third best film after Exorcist and French Connection.
helpful•4012
- Jeremiad222
- Aug 9, 2003
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Wages of Fear
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $22,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $6,014
- Runtime2 hours 1 minute
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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