Human Desire is a 1954 update of Jean Renoir classic film The Human Beast, which was based on a book by Émile Zola. Fritz Lang made his best films while still in Germany; but his USA output still has plenty of gems within it, and while this film is only really a minor footnote in Lang's filmography, it's still a complex, interesting and suspenseful slice of film noir and anyone that is a fan of this type of film will undoubtedly find something to like about it. The film focuses on Jeff Warren; a soldier returning home after the war in Korea. He stays with a friend, gets his old job as an engineer on a train back, and finds himself the attention of his friend's young daughter. Meanwhile, his co-worker Carl Buckley is having problems; he's lost his job and is forced to beg his wife, Vicki, to beg a Mr Owens (whom her mother worked for) for his job back. She gets his job back, but things take a turn when he becomes jealous of his wife and ends up killing Owens on a train...
The film takes on the classic bleak film noir style and Lang compliments this well with his assortment of characters and the plot line. The major players in the plot are fairly well fleshed out; though only well enough to ensure that we never really know what each of them is going to do next. The title, 'Human Desire', seems very fitting considering that most of the events of the film focus around just that. The characters are always the main central point of the movie and Fritz Lang derives most of the movie's suspense and interest from there. Glenn Ford takes the lead role and provides a likable figure. On the flipside are Broderick Crawford and Gloria Grahame who are the film's antagonists. Gloria Grahame gets the role that stands out the most and while she is memorable; she does appear a little awkward at times. The film is interesting for the duration; although the ending is something of a let-down as things are not entirely resolved by then and it feels a little like Lang is pulling the rug from under his audience. Still, this is a very good noir from one of the best directors out there and comes recommended for that reason.
The film takes on the classic bleak film noir style and Lang compliments this well with his assortment of characters and the plot line. The major players in the plot are fairly well fleshed out; though only well enough to ensure that we never really know what each of them is going to do next. The title, 'Human Desire', seems very fitting considering that most of the events of the film focus around just that. The characters are always the main central point of the movie and Fritz Lang derives most of the movie's suspense and interest from there. Glenn Ford takes the lead role and provides a likable figure. On the flipside are Broderick Crawford and Gloria Grahame who are the film's antagonists. Gloria Grahame gets the role that stands out the most and while she is memorable; she does appear a little awkward at times. The film is interesting for the duration; although the ending is something of a let-down as things are not entirely resolved by then and it feels a little like Lang is pulling the rug from under his audience. Still, this is a very good noir from one of the best directors out there and comes recommended for that reason.