For number 36 we have another Suspenseful film from Henri-Georges Clouzot - and boy is it a zinger - The Wages of Fear
taking a different tack than he would take two years later with Diabolique, this is about a group of down on their luck guys driving volatile explosives across South America to an oil well fire.
The first 40-50% of the film actually shows us the lives of the guys who have arrived in this South American Town where it's virtually impossible to get out without money - it tries to establish a dynamic between who are the tough guys, the good guys, and then it throws them into a life or death situation and you see those relationships and assessments get re-evaluated.
By the time the trucks get rolling, you think you know who is going to make it and who is going to have issues with their nerves as the drive goes along and it's an interesting dynamic to watch them flip around - it's also interesting to watch young vs. old - and experienced vs. new - (one character alludes to working in the Salt Mines for 3 years for the Nazis, which would probably age anyone by a hundred years)
I guess the film was edited partially for America - (not in this release) and I could see how a bunch of right-wing moralists looking under every rock for a Commie would be concerned that the oil company is American and seems to not put much value on life as it sends these guys out to deliver the explosives. I'm sure the oil companies are relieved they didn't get bad P.R. - douchebags
but the tension in this second half you can cut with a knife as the trucks get underway - I know there were a few times I was holding my breath - great movie and I'll look forward to more Henri-Georges Clouzot hopefully later in the series
Both of these last two films, by the way, - I have really loved the lighting and the way they are shot - I don't know if I can put a finger on it - but he really uses the light and shots to build the suspense in a way that's very effective - almost film-noir'ish - good stuff
of course, several interviews and extras are on this edition, including a small documentary on what was censored for American audiences, and the print looks great in Blu-Ray
RB
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