The main part of the film – the tension-filled truck journey – is preceded by a substantial, unhurried introduction which provides the setting and allows us to get to know the main characters.   This is important for what follows, because we need to understand the four truck drivers to fully appreciate their situation – what motivates them to take on such a fool-hardy mission.  It also accustoms us to the relentless nihilistic path which the film takes – so that we can sympathise with the central characters – and, possibly, to prepare us for the tragic events which unfold before our eyes.

The direction is faultless and illustrates why Clouzet is one of the greatest directors of all time.  His use of a wide range of photographic techniques to build and sustain the tension is magnificent – particularly the use of close-ups on fear-filled eyes to convey fear and anticipation.  You feel that disaster lurks around every corner - that something truly terrible is going to happen any second.  And, remakably, you are always surprised when something terrible does happen.   To create that sense of tension and expectation is one thing – but to sustain it for a full hour is an incredible achievement.

The sense of realism is provided partly by the impressive location filming (in the South of France – not South America!), but mainly by populating the film with dozens of believable, well developed characters of differing nationalities.  Even minor characters leave their mark, adding to the impression of hopelessness of the world they inhabit.  Of course, it is the four lead actors – playing the volunteer truck drivers – who most shape our view of the film.  Each actor brings something special to the part and we feel a profound sense empathy with their characters’ plight.

Yves Montand is surprisingly well cast as the tough guy who mistreats women and harbours a childish fantasy to see the Paris metro again.  The popular actor/singer is rarely this rough and cynical, yet his innate charm easily makes him the most sympathetic character.

Opposite Montand is Charles Vanel, a more experienced actor who is absolutely perfect as Jo, the man who can face down someone pointing a gun at him but who cracks all too easily when faced with the prospect of being blown to kingdom come.  Having such a strong actor playing this part is a masterstroke and brings home the true terror of what the men are having to go through.  Vanel deserves an Oscar if only for the famous scene where he thrashes about helplessly in an oil-filled swamp.

There is also a moving performance from the director’s wife, Véra, who manages to inject a shot of much-needed humanity into the proceedings. The film was remade in 1977 by William Friedkin as Sorcerer – a film that is really just a shallow echo of Clouzot’s suspense masterpiece.

Additional Details
Country / Выпущено: France, Italy
Company / Производство: Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique (CICC)
Duration / Продолжительность: 01:41:34
Language / Язык: French / English / Spanish / German / Italian / Russian
Russian translation / Русский перевод: любительский одноголосый

DVDRip
Format: AVI 1.0 (VFW 1.1)
Video Stream: XviD build 46, 720x400 (1.80:1), 23.976 fps, 1654 kbps avg, 0.24 bit/pixel
Audio Stream #1: AC3 Dolby Digital, 48 kHz, 1/0 (C) ch, 192.00 kbps avg, Russian one voice dubbing
Audio Stream #2: AC3 Dolby Digital, 48 kHz, 1/0 (C) ch, 192.00 kbps avg, France original
Size: 1491.63 Mb (1 564 086 272 bytes)