The Wages of Fear (1953): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Wages of Fear is a 1953 adventure thriller directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, starring Yves Montand as Mario Livi, Peter van Eyck and Folco Lulli. It runs 2 hours 33 minutes and earned $22,326 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 33m (153 min)
- Director
- Henri-Georges Clouzot
- Original language
-
French - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Wages of Fear About?
The premise of The Wages of Fear without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In a deteriorating South American town, four impoverished men are hired to haul trucks laden with highly volatile nitroglycerin through a hostile jungle to an oil field. The treacherous trek puts their fragile friendships to the test, breeds rivalries, and pushes each driver toward the brink of disaster as they confront constant danger.
The Wages of Fear Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- oil company
- unemployment
- oil
- driver
- truck
- risk
- vibration
- friendship
- bar
- fear
- explosion
- nitroglycerin
+38 more Show fewer
- risk taking
- canister
- shifting gears
- mountain road
- concentration
- caution
- disrespect
- reward
- lack of money
- way out
- recruiting
- capitalism
- comrade
- poverty
- latin america
- psychic
- endurance
- smashed leg
- truck driving
- oil industry
- road transport
- transport
- transporter
- rough
- crude oil
- tough guy
- masculinity
- risk taker
- dangerous job
- driving a truck
- stress
- motor vehicle
- money
- fire
- oil well
- oil field
- death
- last chance
The Wages of Fear Cast & Characters
Yves Montand leads the cast as Mario Livi, with Peter van Eyck as Bimba and Folco Lulli as Luigi. Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Henri-Georges Clouzot
-
Yves Montand as Mario Livi -
Peter van Eyck as Bimba - Folco Lulli as Luigi
- Véra Clouzot as Linda
Also Starring in The Wages of Fear
· 11 more- William Tubbs Bill O'Brien
- Jo Dest Hans Smerloff
- Charles Vanel Mr. Jo
- Darío Moreno Pepito Hernandez
- Antonio Centa Camp Chief
- Darling Légitimus Rosa
- Grégoire Gromoff
- François Valorbe
- Luis De Lima Bernardo
- Joseph Palau-Fabre
- Pat Hurst
The Wages of Fear Plot Summary
What happens in The Wages of Fear from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the isolated desert town of Las Piedras, a rugged line of life is carved out by a single airstrip that barely keeps the outside world within reach. The town sits under the control of the American corporation Southern Oil Company (SOC), which dominates the oil fields, polices the settlement, and treats local workers with an iron fist. Life here is harsh and quiet, with survival often weighing more than justice, and the townspeople learn to endure the company’s capricious authority even as they suffer in silence.
Full summary
The whole story of The Wages of Fear, scene by scene
The Wages of Fear Box Office
The Wages of Fear grossed $22,326 worldwide. $21,228 came from the US and Canada and $1,098 (5%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$22.3K
- US & Canada
- $21.2K
- International
- $1.1K
The Wages of Fear Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 3 trailers, 1 clip and 1 featurette.
- Trailer BFI Trailer
- Trailer Official 4K Restoration Trailer
- Clip Clip
- Featurette Mark Kermode reviews The Wages of Fear (1953) | BFI Player
How Well Do You Know The Wages of Fear?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which character is the sarcastic Corsican playboy?
The Wages of Fear Also Known As
35 alternative titles, including “Cena strachu” and “El salario del miedo”.
- Also known as
-
- Cena strachu
- El salario del miedo
- Lohn der Angst
- Възнаграждение за страха
- O Salário do Medo
- Mzda strachu
- Frygtens pris
- Pelon palkka
- Το μεροκάματο του τρόμου
- A félelem bére
- Nadnica za strah
- Het Loon van de Angst
+23 more Show fewer
- Fryktens lønn
- To merokamato tou tromou
- Mozd-e tars
- Il salario della paura
- Kyôfu no hôshû
- 恐怖の報酬
- Atlyginimas už baimę
- Eksplosive krefter
- Надница за страх
- El salari de la por
- Плата за страх
- 공포의 보수
- 九死一生
- 恐怖的报酬
- 恐惧的酬劳
- Vite vendute
- 恐惧的代价
- Dehşet Yolcuları
- שכר האימה
- Fruktans lön
- Salariul groazei
- 恐怖的報酬
- 死亡邊緣
Seen The Wages of Fear?
Movies Like The Wages of Fear
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Fear Is the Key, Violent Road and The Price of Fear.
The Wages of Fear FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of The Wages of Fear, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Wages of Fear?
The Wages of Fear runs 2 hours 33 minutes (153 minutes).
When was The Wages of Fear released?
The Wages of Fear was released on April 15, 1953.
Who directed The Wages of Fear?
The Wages of Fear was directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot.
More films by Henri-Georges Clouzot Who is in the cast of The Wages of Fear?
The Wages of Fear stars Yves Montand as Mario Livi, Peter van Eyck as Bimba and Folco Lulli as Luigi, among 15 credited actors.
How much did The Wages of Fear make at the box office?
The Wages of Fear grossed $22,326 worldwide ($21,228 domestic, $1,098 international).
Does The Wages of Fear have a post-credit scene?
No. The Wages of Fear has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Wages of Fear in?
The original language of The Wages of Fear is French.
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