Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, France 1953
132 mins. French dialogue with English sub-titles

WINNER : GRAND PRIX AT 1953 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

WINNER : GOLDEN BEAR AT 1953 BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

The manager of a Central American oilfield offers big money to four lorry drivers who will take nitro-glycerine into the jungle to put out an oil-well fire. The incentive of money and the greed this causes creates results which are as black a vision of human infidelity as is possible to imagine.  Cliff-edge tension wracks the nerves but never obscures the fact that the men in contest with each other will crack up and die in a series of craftily managed shocking bad moments.

"It has some claim to be the greatest suspense thriller of all time: it is the suspense not of mystery but of Damocles' sword."  (Basil Wright)