Fritz Lang directed Human Desire, which was adapted by Alfred Hayes from Émile Zola's "The Human Beast." The movie stars Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, and Broderick Crawford; Daniele Amfitheatrof composed the music, and Burnett Guffey served as cinematographer. This story had been brought to film twice previously, first in 1920 as *Die Bestie im Menschen* and again in 1938 as *La Bête humaine*. The narrative centers on a love triangle involving Jeff Warren (Ford), Vicki Buckley (Grahame), and Carl Buckley (Crawford). After losing his job as a Railroad Marshall, Crawford’s character asks his wife, Viki, to persuade John Owens (Grandon Rhodes), a key investor, into pressuring the yard boss to reinstate him. However, past events create jealousy within Carl, especially when Vicki is away for an extended period. This envy triggers a series of events that will irrevocably alter their lives, with Jeff caught in the middle. The Motion Picture Production Code of the era meant Fritz Lang’s adaptation of Zola's novel had to be considerably softened; some of the original story's sex and violence are implied or shown only as consequences. Despite this, it remains a captivating and interesting film filled with classic noir elements. It portrays troubled characters facing a grim existence where hope is scarce and any enjoyment is fleeting, all undermined by jealousy and murder. Jeff Warren, recently returned from serving in the Korean War, represents goodness and honesty amidst this despair. He's desired by the daughter of his friend and landlord (played by Kathleen Case and Edgar Buchanan), and has a promising life working at the rail yard. But as the title suggests, people are sometimes controlled by their wants, and Lang explores how these desires influence the fates of his three main characters. The film is set against the backdrop of a cold rail yard and the trains that operate from it (Guffey’s cinematography emphasizes the bleakness of the setting and the characters' inevitable collision). With two of the leading actors also appearing in *The Big Heat* (1953), the casting is excellent. Grahame shines as an unfulfilled, immoral wife; she manages to be both seductive and sympathetic. Lang had initially wanted Rita Hayworth for the part, but a custody dispute prevented her from leaving the country (much of the film was shot in Canada), so Grahame stepped in and added another classic femme fatale to film noir history. Ford effortlessly portrays an ordinary man, though that doesn't diminish his performance; he provides stability to the story. Crawford delivers yet another portrayal of a large, angry man, pitiable as his rage takes over because all he wants is to satisfy his wife. Buchanan, Case and Diane DeLaire also provide strong supporting performances. *Human Desire* explores themes of adultery, jealousy, murder, and passion—it's a well-made film noir from the talented Fritz Lang. 7.5/10

Source on TMDB