Railway Operator Plunges Into Dark Mystery

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MOVIE REVIEW
Human Desire
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Genre: Drama, Film-Noir, Romance
Year Released: 1954, 2023 Kino Lorber Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 31m
Director(s): Fritz Lang
Writer(s): Alfred Hayes, Émile Zola
Cast: Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Broderick Crawford, Edgar Buchanan, Peggy Maley, Grandon Rhodes
Where To Watch: available July 11, 2023, pre-order here www.kinolorber.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Imagine Jeff (Glenn Ford,) a regular Joe, returning to his civilian life post-Korean War, settling back into his everyday routine as a railway operator. We're about to embark on a cinematic odyssey filled with intrigue, passion, and criminal endeavors involving his friend Carl (Broderick Crawford) and Vicki (Gloria Grahame), Carl's spouse, each bearing a dark mystery.

Skillfully shaped by director Fritz Lang, this emotional maze was inspired by Emile Zola's acclaimed novel, “La Bête Humaine." Lang injects fresh thoughts and imagery into the narrative, reflecting Zola's literary genius while adding his unique touch.

Switching to the hustle and bustle of New York, we see an unassuming salesman. His respite from his humdrum existence – a serene pastime that plummets into turmoil when he encounters a street-smart woman who's no stranger to the nightlife. Their meeting sparks a cascade of deceit, death, and mistaken identity, pulling our unsuspecting protagonist into an abyss of hopelessness. Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame plunge into Lang's intricate tapestry of secrets and sorrow.

The symbolic message behind the locomotive in HUMAN DESIRE symbolizes the relentless march of fate, a recurring theme in Lang's storytelling oeuvre. Lang masterfully sets a melancholy tone against the backdrop of an urban labyrinth, mirroring the story's undercurrent.

With a bold blend of traditional noir and a narrative twist, Lang's HUMAN DESIRE pushes boundaries, serving classic noir and its subversion on a silver screen platter. The film orbits around passion, secrets, jealousy, and remorse, resulting in a narrative reminiscent of a Shakespearean tragedy.

The film rightfully critiques the male gaze in a male-dominated world, providing a layered depiction of characters beyond the usual noir mold. HUMAN DESIRE embodies this concept, flirting with genre constraints while gleefully vaulting over them. This was leaps and bounds ahead of the narrative most films of the time shared.

Although HUMAN DESIRE might lack the sparkle of some of the more notable films of the time, it introduces a unique frame to Lang's broad spectrum of works.

Lastly, HUMAN DESIRE's leading ladies, Gloria Grahame, Kathleen Case, and Peggy Maley, deliver unforgettable performances. They depict the struggles of women under the heavy scrutiny of the male gaze, illustrating a narrative that transcends the traditional femme fatale archetype. They tread a tightrope between innocence and manipulation, adding deep layers to the description.

HUMAN DESIRE is a riveting cinematic tale of complex relationships, concealed secrets, and remorse, guiding us through love, betrayal, and the inevitable clash of destinies. It offers a captivating examination of the human condition that leaves an enduring imprint.

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]