Fury Blu-ray Review
Warner Archive Collection
Score: 72
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Fritz Lang's 'Fury' on Blu-ray is a compelling drama, flawlessly restored in 4K, offering an incisive take on mob mentality—highly recommended.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 83
Warner Archive's 1080p transfer of Fury, sourced from a new 4K scan, presents a dense, film-like image with excellent fine detail and natural grain. The 1.37:1 aspect ratio is faithfully rendered using the AVC codec, offering deep blacks and bright whites without compression artifacts, rivaling many 4K discs.
Audio: 78
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix on the "Fury" Blu-Ray delivers a clean and balanced audio experience, with dialogue and Franz Waxman's iconic score well-integrated despite mild age-related wear, maintaining the authenticity of the original mono mix.
Extra: 36
The Blu-ray extras, including Peter Bogdanovich's well-structured audio commentary featuring taped insights from Fritz Lang, offer an authentic exploration of the film's development, production, and more, complemented by a vintage theatrical trailer.
Movie: 81
Fury, Fritz Lang's riveting American debut, masterfully critiques mob mentality with haunting expressionistic imagery. Despite critiques of Spencer Tracy's performance, the film maintains its tension, though tempered by Production Code mandates. The Blu-ray’s superb 4K restoration by Warner Archive breathes new life into this timeless classic.
Video: 83
The Warner Archive presents a stellar 1080p transfer of "Fury," derived from a new 4K scan of preservation elements. This transfer showcases a dense and film-like image, with impeccable fine detail and natural grain that aligns perfectly with the nitrate source material. Notable features include tight close-ups with exceptional clarity and a significant range of deep blacks, bright whites, and subtle gradients that are free from banding or compression artifacts. The presentation is impressively clean, devoid of dirt, debris, or other damage, while skillfully avoiding noise reduction, allowing natural textures to stand out. Overall, this transfer from Warner Archive rivals many 4K discs in video quality due to its high bit rate on the dual-layered (50GB) disc.
Adhering faithfully to the original 1.37:1 theatrical aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer employs the AVC codec to convey the film's aesthetic authentically. The consistent grain structure is commendable, though it may not exhibit the sharpness found in some other high-definition transfers of films from the 1930s. Nonetheless, its grayscale stability impresses, with acceptable black levels and clean, crisp whites. Viewers will appreciate a viewing experience unmarred by scratches, splices, or other visual anomalies. The meticulous division of the film into 24 chapters further enhances its accessibility and viewing pleasure.
Audio: 78
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono soundtrack on the "Fury" Blu-ray provides a robust, albeit occasionally modest, auditory experience that largely delivers on clarity and balance. There are minor instances of hissing and crackling, likely due to age-related wear, but these are relatively infrequent and do not detract significantly from the overall listening experience. The decision by Warner Archive to avoid excessive restoration ensures the authenticity of the film's audio, preserving its original integrity.
Frank Waxman’s illustrious score is integrated seamlessly with dialogue and sound effects, creating a cohesive audio landscape that honors the film’s vintage origins. The mix splits evenly between the left and right channels, maintaining clean and balanced dialogue amidst background effects. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are available during the main feature, enhancing accessibility for all viewers.
Extras: 36
The Blu-ray extras of "Fury" present an enriching exploration into the film's background and its maker's perspectives. The primary feature is a compelling audio commentary delivered by director and historian Peter Bogdanovich. Enhanced by vintage interviews with filmmaker Fritz Lang, this commentary provides insightful coverage on the film’s development, production techniques, and mid-20th century cinematic context. Bogdanovich’s narrative weaves through the intricacies of Lang's career, including his debut at MGM and early screenplay concepts, delivering a rich historical framework. However, the commentary is occasionally interrupted by prolonged pauses, though these are offset by the sporadic yet poignant insights from Lang himself, contributing an exceptional layer of authenticity. Additionally, viewers are treated to a classic theatrical trailer that captures the promotional essence from the era. The packaging is standard yet visually appealing, despite the absence of inserts or additional materials.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: Features Peter Bogdanovich and excerpts from Fritz Lang's interviews.
- Theatrical Trailer: Vintage promotional piece.
Movie: 81
Fritz Lang's "Fury" presents a compelling exploration of mob mentality, encapsulating both drama and tension in its narrative. The film marks Lang's American debut and highlights the perils of extrajudicial decisions through the plight of Joe Wilson, rivetingly played by Spencer Tracy. Joe, a gas station owner, becomes ensnared in a wrongful accusation while traveling to reunite with his fiancée, Katherine Grant, portrayed by Sylvia Sidney. As small-town rumors spiral into a deadly lynch mob assault, Lang expertly captures the frailties and savagery inherent in human behavior, using German expressionist techniques like stark lighting and shadow to accentuate the psychological underpinnings.
The film unfolds with Joe’s unfortunate incarceration on scant evidence, reflecting Lang's sharp critique of justice subverted by hysteria. Joe's survival after a fiery mob attack sets the stage for a gripping internal and legal battle, questioning moral culpability and revenge. Lang’s direction is particularly potent in scenes of the frenzied lynch mob, conveying chaos with intense close-ups and chilling visual symbolism. Though the courtroom sequences later moderate the film's pacing, they maintain suspense as Joe orchestrates his covert vengeance while grappling with questions of ethics.
Tracy delivers a laudable performance, albeit one that has received mixed opinions regarding his portrayal's intensity. His simmering stoicism is counterbalanced by Sylvia Sidney's fervent emotional portrayal. The supporting performances, notably Edward Ellis as the beleaguered sheriff and Walter Brennan as an ambitious deputy, enrich the film’s narrative fabric. While the ending adopts a more conventional resolution, likely influenced by the era's Production Code constraints, "Fury" remains an intense examination of justice and retribution. The Blu-ray version, enhanced by a 4K restoration, further amplifies its historic and cinematic significance.
Total: 72
Fritz Lang's "Fury," an outstanding American debut, presents a searing commentary on mob mentality that remains remarkably prescient and relevant in today's societal climate. The performances showcase a gamut of emotions, skillfully executed by the cast, contributing significantly to the film's enduring impact. Lang's stylistic prowess imbues the narrative with intensity and unforgettable moments that continue to resonate with audiences, whether encountering it for the first time or revisiting after many years.
Warner Archive's Blu-ray release is commendable, featuring a pristine restoration sourced from a new 4K scan, offering viewers a visual experience that enhances the film's dramatic depth without compromising its historical integrity. This release retains the authenticity of Lang's original vision and is complemented by vintage bonus features that provide valuable insight into the film's historical and cultural context.
In conclusion, "Fury" is a cinematic masterpiece that deserves a spot on any film enthusiast's shelf. The Blu-ray release is an essential acquisition, whether as a fresh exploration or an upgrade from DVD. Its technical excellence ensures that the powerful themes of the film remain vivid and engaging for modern audiences. Highly recommended as both a critical viewing and an invaluable addition to any collection.
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 90
In all respects, this is basically a flawless presentation of the available source material and, like most Warner Archive releases, frequently rivals most actual 4K discs in proportionate video quality,...
Audio: 80
Similarly, the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio supports the one-channel soundtrack perfectly well, only suffering from mild hissing and crackling during a few sporadic stretches -- it's likely that age-related...
Extras: 40
It's a very well-organized and enjoyable track that covers the film's development and production, Lang's pre-American output and arrival at MGM, the four-page outline originally titled "Mob Role", cinematography...
Movie: 80
Fury's first half is paced incredibly well, with its second half devoted more to the slow-burning trial, Joe's sudden reveal, and the big question of whether or not he'll finally tell the truth about his...
Total: 80
Fritz Lang's Fury is as confident an American debut as you'd expect from the German director, a blistering drama with plenty of emotion, mostly great performances, and more than a few unforgettable moments....
Home Theater Forum review by Matt HoughRead review here
Video: 90
The film’s grain structure is most admirably consistent in this transfer even if one might not find it quite as sharp as some other high definition transfers of 1930s films....
Audio: 90
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono sound mix is a little underpowered but clear of any age-related problems with hiss, pops, crackle, or flutter....
Extras: 40
Audio Commentary: director/historian Peter Bogdanovich contributes a start and stop commentary punctuated with generous portions of interviews he conducted over four days in the mid-1960s with filmmaker...
Movie: 90
He has brought with him the expected German expressionistic lights and shadows (an evocative rainstorm is reflected menacingly on the wall), and the burning jailhouse is both starkly beautiful and harrowingly...
Total: 90
With an insurrection within our own consciousness over the past year, Fritz Lang’s portrayal of a mob unrepressed is frighteningly prescient in Fury, only one of several reasons filmgoers should add this...
Director: Fritz Lang
Actors: Sylvia Sidney, Spencer Tracy, Walter Abel
PlotIn a small American town, Joe Wilson is a decent, hard-working man who is engaged to Katherine Grant. Their dreams of a future together are abruptly interrupted when Joe is mistakenly identified as a suspect in a kidnapping case. As he travels to see Katherine, he gets caught in a wave of hysteria fueled by the spread of false information. The local authorities arrest him, and a mob quickly gathers, driven by rumors and a thirst for retribution. Despite his protestations of innocence, the situation escalates out of control, with the mob intent on delivering their own form of justice, driven by baseless accusations and fueled by mass hysteria.
As tensions rise, the county jail becomes the focal point of the town's anger and fear. The mob, blinded by rage, sets fire to the building with Joe trapped inside. Consumed by chaos and violence, the townspeople's actions leave a trail of destruction that cannot be easily undone. Meanwhile, Katherine, devastated by the unfolding events, must grapple with her profound loss and the cruel power of mob mentality. With everything seemingly lost, lingering questions about justice hang over the community. The film examines these themes, highlighting the devastating impact of unchecked emotions and collective prejudice on individuals and communities, exploring the fine line between justice and vengeance in a society quick to judge and condemn.
Writers: Bartlett Cormack, Fritz Lang, Norman Krasna
Release Date: 05 Jun 1936
Runtime: 92 min
Rating: Approved
Country: United States
Language: English, Latin