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Desert Fury

Play trailer Poster for Desert Fury Released Jul 23, 1947 1h 35m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
An Old West gambler (John Hodiak) falls in love with the proper daughter (Lizabeth Scott) of a gambling-house madam.

Critics Reviews

View All (9) Critics Reviews
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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (11) audience reviews
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 Read all reviews
Desert Fury

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Cast & Crew

Branded 80% 62% Branded Watchlist Whispering Smith 83% 61% Whispering Smith Watchlist The Plainsman 100% 52% The Plainsman Watchlist Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 87% 70% Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Watchlist The Virginian 100% 84% The Virginian Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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