In the mid 1930s, Fritz Lang, Germany's most celebrated film director, bravely refused Adolf Hitler's request that he become the head of movies for the Third Reich. Lang fled to America and wound up in Hollywood, hired by MGM. His first American film was Fury (1936), starring Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney, touching on the issue of mob violence. It still holds up well today, but benefits greatly from repeated viewings.
Joe and Kate are in love, but lack the financial stability they deem necessary for marriage. So Kate moves away for a better job, while Joe stays behind to work and save money so that they can wed upon their reunion. When that day comes, Joe drives out to meet Kate but is stopped by the police and is accused of a crime he didn't commit (kidnapping). He maintains his innocence through the questioning...
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| Fury. 1936: Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney |
Meanwhile, Kate is concerned that Joe has not arrived...
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| Fury. 1936: Sylvia Sidney |
While he is being held, the angry townspeople form a mob, hell-bent on instant justice...
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| Fury. 1936 |
They set fire to the jail and everyone assumes Joe is killed in the fiery explosion...
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| Fury. 1936 |
Joe survives, however, and escapes unnoticed. As a result of the horrific behavior of the mob, Joe is determined to get revenge on those responsible for his "death." He wants them to suffer as he suffered. Twenty-two people in the mob are put on trial for Joe's murder (it was later discovered he was an innocent man), while Joe awaits their inevitable executions. It's up to Kate to talk some sense into him before it goes too far...
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| Fury. 1936: Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney |
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| Fury. 1936: Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney |
