Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Wages of Fear 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 24, 2024

Henri-Georges Clouzot's "The Wages of Fear" a.k.a. "Le salaire de la peur" (1953) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute. The supplemental features on the disc include restored original trailer for the film; video interview with professor Lucy Mazdon; audio commentary by critic Adrian Martin; archival interview with assistant director Michel Romanoff; recorded audio conversation with actor Yves Montand; and more. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The text below was initially used for our review of Criterion's release of The Wages of Fear in 2009.

Three men -- Mario (Yves Montand, César et Rosalie) Luigi (Folco Lulli, Le comte de Monte-Cristo), and Bimba (Peter van Eyck, Die Todesstrahlen des Dr. Mabuse) -- are stuck in a dead-end town in an unknown South American country. A fourth man, Jo (Charles Vanel, Du rififi à Tokyo), joins them shortly before an American oil company announces that it needs truckers to transport a large amount of nitroglycerin to a remote oil rig located some 300 miles away from the town. It is a dangerous job that could cost the men their lives, but if they make it, each would get a check for $2,000.

Based on the novel by Georges Arnaud, Henri-Georges Clouzot’s The Wages of Fear did not delight American censors when it was first screened for them in New York City in 1955. Some felt that the film was openly anti-American. (In the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release, Dennis Lehane recalls that even Time magazine managed to offer an opinion: "a picture that is surely one of the most evil ever made”). As a result, the original French version of The Wages of Fear was censored and an entirely new cut of the film entered U.S. theaters.

The key reason why The Wages of Fear prompted such extreme reactions had to do with the manner in which the American oil company that hires Mario, Luigi, Bimba and Jo, as well as its employees, were portrayed. During its first half, there is an uprising against the Americans after the locals learn that a terrible accident at one of the oil company’s big rigs, which could have been prevented, has claimed the lives of a few workers. In several scenes, Bill O'Brien (William Tubbs, Cento piccole mamme), the man who runs the oil company, also utters all sorts of controversial lines that were deemed problematic and consequently cut by the censors.

However, the political overtones, which are anything but controversial nowadays, are not what transform The Wages of Fear into a great film. It is the raw intensity of the narrative and remarkably strong characters that separate The Wages of Fear from the majority of the films that were produced during the '50s.

Something else that also makes The Wages of Fear a special film is the fact that none of the main characters are likable. They are all given plenty of opportunities to impress and become heroes, but there is something about them, something unmistakably creepy, that does not encourage the audience to side with them.

Clouzot filmed his characters as described above for a good reason. It allowed the French director to constantly misplace their strengths and weaknesses in a manner that left the audience guessing, unsure how to deconstruct and judge their actions. (Look closely at Mario and Jo’s relationship from the first half of the film and compare it to their relationship during the second half).

The finale is cold and brutal. It is also very much in sync with the narrative's intense tone and desire to provoke. In the past, many critics believed that the finale was intended as another thinly veiled jab at American culture and the type of reality Hollywood was promoting through its films. Maybe it was, but, as noted earlier, The Wages of Fear did not need to redeem itself as a political film.

The Wages of Fear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This 4K Blu-ray release offers a native 4K presentation of the recent 4K restoration of The Wages of Fear that was completed on behalf of TF1 in France. The same restoration was introduced on Blu-ray in 2017. The 4K Blu-ray release does not have a Blu-ray copy of it.

In native 4K, the 4K restoration can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with HDR. Later, I did various comparisons with the previous Blu-ray release of the 4K restoration.

Please note that all screencaptures that are included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

The overall quality of the native 4K presentation is outstanding. On my system, The Wages of Fear looked terrific -- all visuals were very healthy, boasting strong organic qualities, and stable. Yes, there are a few areas with minor density fluctuations, but they are part of the original cinematography. I did not encounter any serious encoding anomalies to report either.

How does the native 4K presentation compare to the 1080p presentation? Are there any significant improvements? Are there any areas that look less impressive now? Should you consider an upgrade if you already have the previous Blu-ray release of The Wages of Fear?

If the previous Blu-ray release was the final home video release of The Wages of Fear, I would have been perfectly happy with it. After viewing the native 4K presentation of the recent 4K restoration, which is fantastic, I think that it is virtually impossible to highlight any areas with meaningful improvements. Yes, in native 4K some of the daylight footage does reveal a superior dynamic range, so on a bigger screen at the very least your perception of depth will be different. But if you begin paying very close attention to delineation, for instance, and try to identify particular areas where the native 4K presentation excels, you will have a difficult time finding the previous 1080p presentation inferior. Indeed, in 1080p the same areas still look very, very good because the quality of the 4K restoration is excellent. In some darker areas, I even prefer how the grasycale looks in 1080p, though I suspect that different systems will produce different results. Also, I pay close attention to the fluidity of the visuals, which can make a pretty significant difference when they move from 1080p to 4K and are displayed on a very large screen. Once again, I could not spot any meaningful discrepancies. (Admittedly, this is not easy because the 4K restoration retains some bumpy spots). So, what's the final verdict? Should you consider an upgrade if you have the previous Blu-ray release of the 4K restoration? If The Wages of Fear is one of your all-time favorite films, and you invest in this 4K Blu-ray release, I suspect that at best you will discover a few cosmetic improvements, which will almost certainly be specific to your system. If you do not have the previous Blu-ray release of the 4K restoration, then it is very easy to justify picking up the 4K Blu-ray release.

The Wages of Fear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this 4K Blu-ray release: French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The previous Blu-ray release of The Wages of Fear an LPCM 1.0 track. However, the new dual Mono track is a replica of it. While revisiting the film earlier tonight, I did not encounter any technical anomalies to report in our review. The dialog is equally clear and dynamic balance is identical.

The Wages of Fear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Road Trip to Hell? Or Into It? - Purgatory and The Wages of Fear - this exclusive new video essay was created by critic and photographer Nic Wassell. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Lucy Mazdon on The Wages of Fear - in this recent video interview, professor Lucy Mazdon discusses the life and legacy of Henri-Georges Clouzot, as well as the production history and lasting appeal of The Wages of Fear. In English, not subtitled. (35 min).

• Interview with Assistant Director Michel Romanoff - assistant director Michel Romanoff worked with such renowned directors as Marcel Carne, Julien Duvivier, Jacques Demy, and Agnes Varda. He was also Henri-Georges Clouzot's second on Diabolique, The Spies, and The Wages of Fear. In this interview, recorded in Paris in 2005, he discusses his work during the two-year process of shooting The Wages of Fear in the Camargue area of southern France. The interview initially appeared on Criterion's Blu-ray release. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• Interview with Clouzot Biographer Marc Godin - in this archival interview, Marc Godin discusses some of the primary influences on Henri-Georges Clouzot's cinematic style (Murnau's work in particular), his work for the Germans during WW2 and consequently banning after the end of the war, and the evolution of his style, with specific comments about The Wages of Fear. This interview was also included on Criterion's Blu-ray release. In French, with optional English subtitles. (11 min).

• The Guardian Lecture: Yves Montand in Conversation with Don Allen - presented here is a recorded audio conversation with the late Yves Montand who discusses his illustrious career, political beliefs, and contribution to a number of different, now considered classics, French films, including The Wages of Fear. The conversation was recorded in 1989. In English, not subtitled. (99 min).

• Trailer - fully restored original trailer for The Wages of Fear. In French, with optional English subtitles. (4 min).

• Commentary - critic Adrian Martin discusses in great detail the production history of The Wages of Fear, critical reception, unique qualities, and the career of its creator, Henri-Georges Clouzot. The commentary was recorded in 2017.

• Treasures From the BFI National Archive - three short films from the BFI archives. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. They Take the High Road (1960) - directed by James Ritchie. Fully restored. (25 min).
  2. Fire Checked by Explosives! (1928) - newsreel from Tropical Budget. Fully restored. (1 min).
  3. Transporting Loads - With or Without Roads (1920) - an archival advertisement. Fully restored. (6 min).

• Booklet - 26-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by Andy Miller, original reviews by Karel Reisz and Penelope Houston, appreciation of Henri-Georges Clouzot by Paul Ryan, and technical credits.

The Wages of Fear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This 4K Blu-ray release offers only a native 4K presentation of the excellent recent 4K restoration of The Wages of Fear that was prepared on behalf of TF1 in France. The same 4K restoration was released on Blu-ray in 2017. If you do not have the Blu-ray release in your library, pick up the 4K Blu-ray release, but keep in mind that it does not have a Blu-ray copy, which means that you need to have a 4K system to play it. Should you consider an upgrade if you already have the Blu-ray release? I think that the 4K restoration looks equally impressive on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. There are some minor discrepancies between the different presentations these releases offer, but as far as I am concerned they are insignificant trade-offs. Also, I think that they will vary on different systems, so satisfaction with these presentations will be different as well. Ultimately, anyone that wishes to see and own a top-quality presentation of The Wages of Fear can choose from two great releases, so a bad pick is impossible. Hopefully, this year the 4K restoration of The Wages of Fear will finally reach America as well. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.