The Wages of Fear

Synopsis: In the South American jungle supplies of nitroglycerin are needed at a remote oil field. The oil company pays four men to deliver the supplies in two trucks. A tense rivalry develops between the two sets of drivers and on the rough remote roads the slightest jolt can result in death.
Production: Janus Films
  Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 5 wins.
 
IMDB:
8.1
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
NOT RATED
Year:
1953
131 min
925 Views


WAGES OF FEAR:

Alms, sir.

Charity.

Whiten yourself a bit, the

sun hit you pretty hard.

I'm going to whiten your

tongue with my soap.

Come on, Perla, show me

your thanks.

You are asking too much,

cheeky.

OK, forget it.

What a disgrace!

I hate mutts!

Anybody asking you?

Listen, doc, no one asked

your opinion.

Some guys have all

the luck.

I wouldn't mind a job

like that.

It's for voters only.

Got your card?

Never thought I'd beg

for a job.

For tramps there's never

any work.

Well, what'll you have?

Make up your mind.

A lemonade.

Only one for the lot?

Get it and shut up!

You're always so nice

and polite.

Rose, a lemonade for

the doctor.

Looking for trouble?

Not much distraction here.

If only it wasn't so hot!

What are we hanging

around here for?

Coming tonight?

Maybe... You got them?

In the flour bag.

Kiss me.

Watch out for my suit!

Linda, come here!

At the flour again, eh?

Don't I feed you?

I didn't eat your flour.

Caught in the act.

I'll show you.

Forget it.

Mind your business!

He's itching for trouble.

Who's asking you?

You're just a pack

of tramps.

Only fit for loafing...

and scaring away all

the customers.

Scram or I'll call

the cops.

They may be interested

in your papers.

Oh, a squealer?

I'm a citizen, not a

lousy foreigner.

What a credit to the

white race!

What do you want?

Did you hear me?

Beat it!

If I ever hear...

that you touched a hair

on her head...

Me? I wouldn't hurt her!

On the contrary.

I only want to help her.

Don't I baby?

Go to my room.

I'll be right up.

Yes, sir.

Leave that.

You want trouble.

Clear out of here,

you lousy tramp.

You cheap tramp!

Take it easy!

The street's free!

Then have the cops

check on you.

Dirty rat! Louse!

Your insults get in

through my ear...

Going up or not?

Where is that lazy tramp?

Here!

The mail...didn't you hear

the plane?

Get to the airport!

Hurry!

The money I've lost on

account of you!

What's up?

Can I go with you?

If I ever meet

the right pilot.

He'll let me ride

with the baggage.

I'll show him

my U.S. visa.

Did I ever show you

my visa?

Everyone's seen it.

Keep it in your pocket

and don't flash it.

The plane of the

international Airline...

is landing in

airstrip number 1.

Please, may all the

passengers go...

through the custom house.

Hi, Pepito,

what's new?

Listen, boss, I got

my passport.

Next.

Come here.

Any baggage?

No.

Got a passport?

Yes, a passport.

What brings you here?

I don't know yet.

We'll put down "tourist".

What's up?

A traffic jam.

Tito! Come on, now.

The lady and the child.

That's right.

Smile. Don't move,

please.

That'll be a dollar.

Wait, maybe I'm not

getting off yet.

Why don't you take a picture?

You French?

Pleased to meet you, kid.

Where from?

Paris, Rue des Pyrenees.

I'm from Propriane.

Ah, a Corsican!

But I used to work

in Paris.

Swell! It won't be as bad

as I thought.

From Tegucigalpa?

Could be.

Give me the low-down.

I'm absolutely dead broke.

Anything doing here?

Let's try the saloon.

Hernandez isn't a bad guy.

Is it far?

Let's take the taxi.

itll look better.

The Corsair.

Hello, boss. I've brought

a pal along.

I've got my hands full

already.

A sight for sore eyes!

Pay for the taxi.

Who is this guy?

I thought he was your pal!

Know him?

By reputation.

Come along, kid.

Set one up for

my pal too!

Sit down.

Much obliged.

Come off it!

We're pals.

You can call me Jo,

but to the others,

I'm Mr. Jo!

Here's to you, Jo.

itll all work out.

Don't worry!

Not a bad joint.

You get tired of it.

How'd you ever pick

this town?

You can't always choose.

I had to beat it fast.

I headed for the airport...

and bought a $50 ticket.

That's how I'm here.

This is Linda. A sweet kid.

So I see.

Say something.

Be polite.

She's half savage.

It's lost a button.

Beat it!

Get what I mean?

They drop from the trees.

Have you eaten?

On the plane.

The meal was included.

I'm going for a bite.

How about here?

I've got a room in town.

I like my independence.

I understand.

I won't be long.

You see?

He hangs on to me.

Sure!

Were you mixing cement?

I finished the framework.

We got a new mixer.

We may get a vibrator.

Say, did you strike gold

or something?

It's a present!

Noodles again?

Stop bellyaching. I'll

make you a swell sauce.

We don't have time.

I met...

A woman?

It happens to be a man.

A real one.

-Drink.

-Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

I'm thirsty.

Got any money?

My back wages?

We'll see.

Poor guy!

Two beers outside.

You sure eat fast!

When I feel good.

Thanks, kid.

How about a shot

of brandy?

Some service.

I just helped myself.

Allow me, my lord.

-Stop the music.

-Sorry.

Shut it off.

-You won't see us anymore.

-Out! Out!

We won't come back.

We'll go to some place

else.

Go get some fresh air.

A bunch of bellyachers!

Not one of us here

has any work.

Just occasional odd jobs.

Just enough to eat

and buy a drink.

Why don't you clear out?

I would if I could.

The trouble is...

takes too much effort.

Any trains?

None at all.

No highway?

It ends at the oil wells.

Planes?

The fare's too high.

Caracas is too close.

Besides, it's too hot.

After that, it costs

around $300.

Got that much?

Neither have I.

You need a visa.

It can be arranged.

A real one?

A real one, too.

It takes dough for that.

And there are no jobs here.

They began that building

two years ago.

But they gave up.

Too much sun.

It's like prison here.

Easy to get in...

But no exit.

If you stay, you croak.

That's not my line.

Not anyone else's. But...

they do!

Here's proof.

He couldn't stand up.

Because of the fever.

Not only mosquitoes...

But spiders too. And

bugs that eat your liver.

And leprosy too.

You get spots on your

wrists.

But all that's nothing.

There's only one

chronic sickness,

Hunger!

That's what kills

most of us.

That's for Americans.

Americans here?

Wherever there's oil,

there's Americans.

SOC is their company.

They've got a camp.

They're organised.

Houses, a canteen,

a cemetery.

All prefabricated!

O'Brien checks up

once a week.

O'Brien? Bill O'Brien?

A big guy?

Know him?

And how! We operated

together in 1932.

That changes everything!

When I need dough,

I get mean.

You've got 900 miles

of pipeline.

A little dynamite...

makes a lot of noise.

If the cops pin it

on me...

No go, eh?

For the time being?

Must be dough around

somewhere.

When the oil stops,

everything stops!

Look at that guy.

They fired him.

Look at him now!

Who's he?

That's my pal Luigi.

A good guy.

Haven't seen much of you

lately.

If you only knew...

how busy we are!

Let's swap jobs!

We work...

with our brains.

How's the job?

So-so. The pay's no good.

He's a real miser.

Always saving.

I'm saving to go home.

That guy doesn't seem

to like conversation!

See what I mean?

A real plugger.

We share a room. He does

all the ironing & cooking.

A terrific guy!

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Georges Arnaud

Henri Girard (1917 - 1987) was a French author who used the pseudonym Georges Arnaud. He was born in France, in Montpellier. He was the author of the novel The Wages of Fear (French: Le salaire de la peur). more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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