MovieChat Forums > Fury (1936) Discussion > Movie Works On Many Levels

Movie Works On Many Levels

posted 9 years ago by joeparkson
5 replies | jump to latest

Individuals who by themselves would not kill anyone come together with various motives to commit horror.

A political decision not to call out the national guard allows the mob to overpower the local police.

The faces of the crowd watching a man being burned alive shows a range from horror to carnival like enjoyment. Reminded me of "The Big Carnival", where a man trapped in a cave becomes a tourist attraction.

The sheriff, asked on the stand to identify members of the mob, says "they must have come from out of town". Though nearly killed by the mob, he must live among them after the trial is over.

Nice guy Wilson, becomes nearly as bad as the lynch mob by manipulating the trial to try and convict the defendants for murder.

Soy 'un hijo de la playa'

[–] homerj208 9 years ago

Agreed. While lynchings are thankfully gone in these United States, the mob mentality that Lang portrays still resonates today.

[–] thomas-begen-194-976045 9 years ago

My main criticism of "Fury" is the way the cops stood around like dimwits while the mob was in the process of breaking into the County Jail.

It's hard for me to believe this is realistic. If I was in their position I would have made it very clear: if you don't stop I am going to take out as many of you as I can in the name of justice.

As you say, the sheriff himself is clobbered and virtually left for dead. If I'm in a position where an angry mob has organized and is threatening my life and the lives of others, I'm gonna blow them away.

Because of the impracticality of cops standing around like putzes as a mob reeks havoc, "Fury" receives a 7/10 instead of an 8/10; and, I think I'm being really fair with a 7/10.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

thomas-begen-194-976045 says > My main criticism of "Fury" is the way the cops stood around like dimwits while the mob was in the process of breaking into the County Jail.

There wasn't a whole lot they could do. It was a fairly small town so the sheriff deputized some extra men but the mob far outnumbered them. They requested and were awaiting reinforcements but, as you saw, they were purposefully delayed.

[–] thomas-begen-194-976045 9 years ago

If I was in that situation I wouldn't have stood around like a putz. I would have start blasting away, and that would be enough to frighten may people off. I find that scene highly unrealistic.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

In context it's realistic. They're protecting Joe but he's an outsider. They don't really want to harm their friends and neighbors in the mob. The sheriff wouldn't name names at trial so there's no way he'd have his men shoot in their direction; even into the air the bullets have to land somewhere. All the men and their families have to live in that town.