Desert Fury

Released Jul 23, 1947

1h 35m

Western

List

67%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

59%

Audience Score

50+ Ratings

An Old West gambler (John Hodiak) falls in love with the proper daughter (Lizabeth Scott) of a gambling-house madam.

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James Agee

TIME Magazine

If you could be sure that it was meant to be funny, you could relax and enjoy it thoroughly.

Mar 2, 2018

Full Review

Margaret Barton-Fumo

Film Comment Magazine

As a self-described "front row performer," Cave is at home in this unusual film, backstroking in the ornate aquarium that Forsythe and Pollard have constructed for him.

Sep 15, 2014

Full Review

Thomas M. Pryor

New York Times

A beaut of a Technicolored mistake from beginning to end.

Rated: 1.5/5

Nov 27, 2012

Full Review

Peter Martin

EverythingButHorror.com

I loved this film, which isn't afraid to play to its pulpy roots.

Aug 31, 2022

Full Review

Jack Moffitt

Esquire Magazine

It's as modern as the casino at Las Vegas and as rugged as the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

Oct 21, 2020

Full Review

Raquel Stecher

Out of the Past

Desert Fury is delightful melodramatic confection. It's not a good film by any means but boy is it enjoyable.

Apr 22, 2019

Full Review

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acsdoug D

I stayed with this snoozer in the hope there would be a worthy payoff in the end. There wasn't.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/21/23

Full Review

Steve D

Ok but it feels like you already saw it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A small-town Nevada casino owner (Mary Astor) attempts to control the life of her daughter (Lizabeth Scott), including arranging a marriage to the upright sheriff's deputy (Burt Lancaster), but the daughter falls for a shady racketeer (John Hodiak), hiding out with his "longtime companion" (Wendell Corey). Over-the-top mixture of film noir and Technicolor melodrama is a bit silly at times -- I can't recall a film where so many people get slapped -- but it has energy to spare and the subtextual homoeroticism is so strong it's practically text!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

the only Technicolor 'film noir' I've ever seen.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Film Noir and Technicolor have never really mixed well, so in the few of them made, the plot has needed to be extra colorful in order to make it work. For Paramount's "Desert Fury", the color isn't a metaphor for the lives of the characters here, but definitely a contrast to it--Burt Lancaster and luscious Lizabeth Scott headline a stellar cast in this twisted romance/thriller.. Freighted Technicolor noir is one of a kind -- a real lulu...!!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Richly color saturated noir that Mary Astor walks off with even though she's a supporting character. You can tell this was made early in Lancaster's career considering his part is so small. Lizabeth's car is drool worthy. Solid drama.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Lewis Allen

Director

Lizabeth Scott

Paula Haller

John Hodiak

Eddie Bendix

Burt Lancaster

Tom Hason

Wendell Corey

Johnny Ryan

Mary Astor

Fritzi Haller

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Synopsis

An Old West gambler (John Hodiak) falls in love with the proper daughter (Lizabeth Scott) of a gambling-house madam.

Director: Lewis Allen
Screenwriter: Robert Rossen
Production Co: Paramount
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 1947, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 20, 2019
Runtime: 1h 35m