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MTDb โ€บ Best of โ€บ 1953 โ€บ Fear and Desire

Fear and Desire poster

Fear and Desire (1953)

โ€œTrappedโ€ฆ 4 desperate men and a strange half-animal girl!โ€

5.4/10 ยท 555 votes 1h 2m nr ThrillerDramaWar

#16 of 16 films from 1953 #2342 of 2475 in thriller

Directed by Stanley Kubrick ยท Written by Howard Sackler

โ–ถ Trailer, images & where to stream

Overview

After their airplane crashes behind enemy lines, four soldiers must survive and try to find a way back to their battalion. However, when they come across a local peasant girl the horrors of war quickly become apparent.

Cast

Frank Silveraas Mac
Kenneth Harpas Lt. Corby / The General
Paul Mazurskyas Sidney
Stephen Coitas Fletcher / The Captain
Virginia Leithas The Girl
David Allenas Narrator (voice)

Facts

Release dateMarch 31, 1953
Runtime62 min (1h 2m) โ€” shorter as the 1953 average of 103 min
GenresThriller, Drama, War
LanguageEN
Budget$53,000
IMDbtt0045758

More from Stanley Kubrick

Paths of GloryPaths of Glory1957 ยท โ˜… 8.3 ยท 1h 28m A Clockwork OrangeA Clockwork Orange1971 ยท โ˜… 8.2 ยท 2h 17m The ShiningThe Shining1980 ยท โ˜… 8.2 ยท 2h 24m Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombDr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb1964 ยท โ˜… 8.1 ยท 1h 35m Full Metal JacketFull Metal Jacket1987 ยท โ˜… 8.1 ยท 1h 57m 2001: A Space Odyssey2001: A Space Odyssey1968 ยท โ˜… 8.0 ยท 2h 29m Barry LyndonBarry Lyndon1975 ยท โ˜… 8.0 ยท 3h 8m The KillingThe Killing1956 ยท โ˜… 7.6 ยท 1h 25m

If you liked Fear and Desire

Same genre, released within a few years, sorted by TMDB rating.

The Guns of NavaroneThe Guns of Navarone1961 ยท โ˜… 7.3 ยท 2h 40m Paths of GloryPaths of Glory1957 ยท โ˜… 8.3 ยท 1h 28m Rear WindowRear Window1954 ยท โ˜… 8.3 ยท 1h 53m Le TrouLe Trou1960 ยท โ˜… 8.2 ยท 2h 12m YojimboYojimbo1961 ยท โ˜… 8.1 ยท 1h 50m Judgment at NurembergJudgment at Nuremberg1961 ยท โ˜… 8.0 ยท 3h 11m Dial M for MurderDial M for Murder1954 ยท โ˜… 8.0 ยท 1h 45m The Wages of FearThe Wages of Fear1953 ยท โ˜… 8.0 ยท 2h 34m

Questions

How long is Fear and Desire?
Fear and Desire runs 62 minutes (1h 2m), short enough for a weeknight.
Is Fear and Desire worth watching?
TMDB users give it 5.4/10 across 555 votes, which places it #16 of 16 films released in 1953 in this index (top 6%) and #2342 among 2475 thriller titles.
Who directed Fear and Desire?
Fear and Desire was directed by Stanley Kubrick. Other well-rated titles by the same director: Paths of Glory (1957), A Clockwork Orange (1971), The Shining (1980).
Who stars in Fear and Desire?
Frank Silvera as Mac; Kenneth Harp as Lt. Corby / The General; Paul Mazursky as Sidney; Stephen Coit as Fletcher / The Captain; Virginia Leith as The Girl; David Allen as Narrator (voice).
What is Fear and Desire rated?
It carries a nr certification in its home market. Ratings differ by country.
Where can I watch the trailer for Fear and Desire?
Open the title in the MTDb app for trailers, images and streaming links: https://mv.peoplentools.com/titles/147052.

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Best of 1953Best thrillerThriller of the 1950sBest dramaDrama of the 1950sBest warWar of the 1950sAll lists
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Film data and images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings are TMDB user scores as of 2026-10-05.