Diabolique; The Wages of Fear

These two classics from director Henri-Georges Clouzot have been available on video before: both films are in the public domain, and therefore anyone can duplicate and distribute them. While earlier versions have been struck from chopped-up and scratchy prints with faded subtitles, these new versions from Films Inc./Home Vision are both pristine in image and carry new, easy-to-read subtitles. Diabolique, a much-imitated psychological horror classic teams Nicole Horner (Simone Signoret) with Christina Delasalle (Vera Clouzot, who, incidentally, is the director's wife) as the mistress and wife, respectively of Delasalle's husband (Paul Meurisse), a sadistic schoolmaster. The two women become strange bedfellows when they devise a plan to drown the schoolmaster. Unfortunately, after drowning Delasalle in a bathtub, and dumping his body in the school pool (where they hope it will be "found"), the body decides to disappear. Clouzot knows how to squeeze an audience, and he keeps viewers shuffling through the limited field of suspects in this bizarre mystery right up to the startling climax. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman) A jarring, edge-of-the-seat, suspense classic, The Wages of Fear took top honors at the Cannes Film Festival. Set in the dusty village of Las Piedras, in Central America, the story follows the hiring of a team of men to drive a pair of trucks carrying nitroglycerine to cap a remote raging oil well fire. The first half of the film centers on the men themselves--mostly destitute--who are offered $2,000 each, which they see as their ticket out of Las Piedras. With the team assembled, the trucks roll out. One truck is driven by Jo (Charles Vanel) and Mario (Yves Montand), the other (two trucks are sent because it is assumed that one won't make it) carries Luigi (Folco Lulli) and Bimba (Peter Van Eyck). Most of the action focuses on Mario and Jo. Almost immediately, the big-talking Jo develops the sweats (saying he has malaria), and periodically tries to run away. And then the real problems begin: a difficult three-point turn nearly sends their truck over a cliff; a large boulder blocks their path, and must be blown up; and, finally, the truck with Luigi and Bimba explodes, rupturing a pipeline in the process--and, in the film's most suspenseful scene--the latter truck must get across the rising reservoir of oil. In the end, only Mario completes the journey. A knockout hair-raiser, with an ironic ending twist. Remade in 1977 by William Friedkin as Sorcerer. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman) [DVD Review—Nov. 1, 2005—Criterion, 2 discs, 147 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1955's The Wages of Fear boasts a great transfer and Dolby Digital mono sound. DVD extras include the documentary 'Henri-Georges Clouzot: The Enlightened Tyrant' (53 min.); interviews with assistant director Michel Romanoff (23 min.), Clouzot biographer Marc Godin (10 min), and (in 1988) actor Yves Montand (5 min.); a 'Censored' analysis of cuts made to the film for the 1955 U.S. release; a 24-page booklet featuring an essay by novelist Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) and interviews with cast and crew, and trailers. Bottom line: a step up from the original Criterion release, this extras-packed release of a cinema classic is highly recommended.] [Blu-ray Review—Apr. 28, 2009—Criterion, 147 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1953's The Wages of Fear features a stunning transfer and mono audio. Blu-ray extras are identical to the previous Criterion standard DVD release, including the documentary 'Henri-Georges Clouzot: The Enlightened Tyrant' (53 min.), interviews with assistant director Michel Romanoff (23 min.), Clouzot biographer Marc Godin (10 min), and actor Yves Montand (5 min.), a 'Censored' analysis of cuts made to the film for the 1955 U.S. release, a 24-page booklet featuring an essay by novelist Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) and cast and crew interviews, and trailers. Bottom line: a cinema classic makes its glorious debut in Blu.] [DVD/Blu-ray Review—May 24, 2011—Criterion, 117 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, second on DVD, 1955's Diabolique sports a nice transfer with LPCM mono sound. Bonus features include select-scene commentary by French film scholar Kelley Conway, an intro by Serge Bromberg—co-director of Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno (15 min.), an interview with novelist and film critic Kim Newman (15 min.), the original theatrical trailer, and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Terrence Rafferty. Bottom line: a fine extras package and welcome Blu-ray debut for a French classic.]