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The Wages of Fear (1953)
The Wages of Fear (1953) poster
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4.4

The Wages of Fear (1953)

Le Salaire de la peur

Drama, Thriller, Adventure • 1h 45m

Overview

In a run-down South American town, four men are paid to drive trucks loaded with nitroglycerin into the jungle through to the oil field. Friendships are tested and rivalries develop as they embark upon the perilous journey.

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > BFI 4K Blu-ray. caps Criterion presents the master as originally graded in SDR whereas FiM added HDR / Dolby Vision for the BFI.

Best Audio Release

1991 Criterion LaserDisc. Criterion 4K Blu-ray's audio mix has more detail than BFI’s and same applies to the subtitles, covering both English and France spoken word

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Excellent
Criterion:

BFI a close second

Superior Imports
Criterion US > BFI UK:

better audio + subs on the US 4K

TSPDT

2026: #340
2025: #341
2024: #341
2023: #335
2022: #335

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 9, Audio: 7, Extras: 8

Length

105 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

a year ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > BFI 4K Blu-ray. caps Criterion presents the master as originally graded in SDR whereas FiM added HDR / Dolby Vision for the BFI.

Best Audio Release

1991 Criterion LaserDisc. Criterion 4K Blu-ray's audio mix has more detail than BFI’s and same applies to the subtitles, covering both English and France spoken word

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Excellent
Criterion:

BFI a close second

Superior Imports
Criterion US > BFI UK:

better audio + subs on the US 4K

Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #340
2025: #341
2024: #341
2023: #335
2022: #335
Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 9, Audio: 7, Extras: 8

Length
105 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
a year ago
Contributors

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Uncensored version: old DVD

Upcoming Release:

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Uncensored version: old DVD

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Best English-Friendly:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint Blu-ray upcoming included in After Dark Neo-Noir Cinema Vol. 4

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

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Criterion Blu-ray

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Best Video:

2022 Paramount Blu-ray

2014 Criterion Blu-ray is from the same master and has only slightly worse compression. JP/DE/FR releases all have incorrect levels. Caps

Best Audio:

2022 Paramount Blu-ray

All Blu-ray releases are from the same mastering, superior to the one on older DVD releases which is sourced from a higher generation source. They all sound about the same, with the exception of Criterion, which sounds worse due to extraneous filtering.

Paramount's disc also includes a contemporary English dub, previously unreleased on home video.

Best English-Friendly:

2022 Paramount Blu-ray

Best Video:

2022 Paramount Blu-ray

2014 Criterion Blu-ray is from the same master and has only slightly worse compression. JP/DE/FR releases all have incorrect levels. Caps

Best Audio:

2022 Paramount Blu-ray

All Blu-ray releases are from the same mastering, superior to the one on older DVD releases which is sourced from a higher generation source. They all sound about the same, with the exception of Criterion, which sounds worse due to extraneous filtering.

Paramount's disc also includes a contemporary English dub, previously unreleased on home video.

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2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook fixes duplicate shot seen on the previous Columbia Classics release and has better encoding

Best Audio:

Original mono mix: 1990 Criterion LaserDisc/1991 Columbia LaserDisc
The 4K Blu-ray mono is only minimally worse (see blah-ray).

5.1 remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray

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2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook

Best Video:

2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook fixes duplicate shot seen on the previous Columbia Classics release and has better encoding

Best Audio:

Original mono mix: 1990 Criterion LaserDisc/1991 Columbia LaserDisc
The 4K Blu-ray mono is only minimally worse (see blah-ray).

5.1 remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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Best Video:

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Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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Criterion US 4K Blu-ray > Alamode Germany. HDR10 grade on the Germany disc was not approved by the filmmakers, Criterion's SDR only master is the most faithful representation and the Germany disc is not English-friendly

Best Audio:

German 4K Blu-Ray has Atmos track

Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

Criterion US 4K Blu-ray > Alamode Germany. HDR10 grade on the Germany disc was not approved by the filmmakers, Criterion's SDR only master is the most faithful representation and the Germany disc is not English-friendly

Best Audio:

German 4K Blu-Ray has Atmos track

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Best English-Friendly:

Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema, Volume 1 Blu-ray

Best Video:

Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema, Volume 1 Blu-ray or potentially French Intersections Blu-ray but not English-friendly

Additional Info:

There are no comparisons, and all releases are likely the same transfer from 2K restoration. However, given that other releases in the Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema, Volume 1 Blu-ray are superior to other Polish releases, likely the same conclusion applies here.

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema, Volume 1 Blu-ray or potentially French Intersections Blu-ray but not English-friendly

Additional Info:

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France Coin Germany mire Cinema 4K Blu-ray (not English friendly)

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Best Audio:

1992 MGM LaserDisc [ML102699], but still a bit overly noise-managed.

1984 CBS/Fox Hi-Fi VHS maybe better?

Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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1984 CBS/Fox Hi-Fi VHS maybe better?

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Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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Criterion/Artificial Eye Blu-ray are even older restoration than the Filmjuwelen 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Filmjuwelen 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray has incorrect pitch on the Russian audio see thread

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4K Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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See comparison vs German Filmjuwelen 4K Blu-ray which is a 2K upscale of the previous restoration

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Best Audio:

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Additional Info:

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Upcoming Release:

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International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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Additional Info:

No Blu-ray or DVD release has presented the movie in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 for the US cut or 1.66:1 for the International cut.

The packaging on the back of the 4K Blu-ray incorrectly states it as 1.85:1 when the movie is actually 1.78:1 as is the original Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

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International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

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Best Video:

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International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1999 WB DVD

Additional Info:

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Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

Final Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray (Caveat: No Dolby Vision from Streaming)

Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set for a better AVC encode

Best Audio:

1982 Theatrical Mix: Embassy Video releases, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

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1992 Director's Cut Dolby Stereo: WB CAV LaserDisc 2.0 PCM-best fidelity of any mix, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set DTS-HD MA 5.1

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Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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Best Video:

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Best Audio:

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Best Audio:

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Additional Info:

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Best English-Friendly:

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Additional Info:

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Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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The Wages of Fear (1953) backdrop