FEAR AND DESIRE
US, 1953, 62 minutes, Black-and-white.
Frank Silvera, Kenneth Harp, Paul Mazurski, Stephen Coit, Virginia Leith, David Allen.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick.
This was the first feature film from Stanley Kubrick at the time that he was working as a photographer for Life Magazine. Subsequently, Kubrick tried to destroy every copy of the film. Some remained and the copy available, especially on You Tube, is of good quality and is preceded with an interview with Kubrick about his attitude towards the film, his choice, the writing, the actors, some good scenes, it is heavy limitations.
The film was released in 1953 through art houses and receive some good reviews. Kubrick then went on to make The Killing and Killers Kiss which were much better for his reputation and then he made his classic Paths of Glory. He was sacked from making One-provide jacks with Marlon Brando but achieved worldwide reputation with Spartacus in 1960. He made Lolita, again a claim for Dr Strange and then his masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968. His further films were A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and, finally, in 1999, Eyes wide Shut.
Fear and Desire is a war film, a group of soldiers behind enemy lines in unspecified country. The action, on the whole, is somewhat unconvincing, the behaviour of the soldiers, their not being detected, the presence of the Germans – and, while situations were meant to be tense, they are not so successfully tends dramatically.
While there is action, and the deaths of some of the Germans and the brutal killing of a woman, the screenplay is often rather philosophical about the meaning of life, something which appealed to Kubrick.
Four men spent a lot of time talking about what they will do, going to some to complete seeing all his films. And, ultimately, some are successful in escaping, intending to go on a raft along the river to get over into Allied lines.
There is a commander (who also plays the German commander), a fairly stern man. He does the planning, and successfully escapes. Of interest to moviegoers and movie buffs, a young Paul was a risky, later to have a very successful career in Hollywood, plays a young soldier who becomes somewhat demented. A local girl is captured and he is left to guard her. However, he begins to lust after her, accosting her, repeating, and indulging, becoming bewildered, freeing her from her bonds but, ultimately shooting her. He then disappears only to be picked up unexpectedly by one of the soldiers who is travelling along the river on the raft.
There are some confrontations with the German soldiers, an ambush and the Americans shooting the Germans. They also go down to the house without seeing the German commander. That attack and there is a massacre as well.
Ultimately, the leader and the man on the raft survive and escape, the fourth man being shot in escape.
There is no particular reason to see the film itself although it does have some interest in its philosophical dialogue and some aspects of the acting, especially for visits his character. However, it is an unmissable occasion for Kubrick fans and film buffs to complete viewing of all Kubrick’s films.
