The Sound of Fury (1950) in Color — Starring Frank Lovejoy & Kathleen Ryan

The Sound of Fury (1950) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the devastating, socially explosive film noir The Sound of Fury (1950) colorized in stunning HD quality. Directed by Cy Endfield, this United Artists production — also known as Try and Get Me! — stars Frank Lovejoy and Lloyd Bridges in a searing, fact-based drama about two men who commit a kidnapping and murder, and the wave of mob violence that their crime unleashes upon an entire community. Lovejoy plays Howard Tyler, a desperate, unemployed family man who is drawn into a partnership with the charismatic, psychopathic Jerry Slocum (Bridges) — first as a petty accomplice, then as a participant in a kidnapping that goes horrifically wrong. When the truth emerges, the community’s outrage is whipped into frenzy by a sensation-seeking newspaper columnist, culminating in one of the most terrifying lynch mob sequences ever filmed. Now available as an instant, DRM-free digital download for only €15.00.

Plot Summary

Howard Tyler (Frank Lovejoy) is a decent, ordinary man at the end of his rope. Unemployed, unable to provide for his wife and young son, and worn down by months of fruitless job hunting, Howard encounters Jerry Slocum (Lloyd Bridges), a charming, reckless young man who offers him a way out of poverty. Jerry’s way out is crime — small-time robberies of gas stations and roadside businesses. Howard, desperate and rationalising, agrees.

The partnership works. Money flows. Howard’s family crisis eases. But Jerry is not just reckless — he is a genuine psychopath whose appetite for risk and violence escalates with every success. Jerry conceives a plan to kidnap the son of a wealthy businessman for ransom. Howard, horrified but trapped by complicity and financial dependence, goes along. The kidnapping ends in murder — not planned, but inevitable given Jerry’s volatile nature — and the two men are left with a crime far beyond anything Howard imagined.

The investigation closes in, but the film’s true horror is what happens when the community learns the truth. A newspaper columnist (Richard Carlson), desperate for circulation and drunk on his own self-righteous fury, publishes inflammatory editorials that transform legitimate outrage into mob bloodlust. The film builds to its devastating climax — the storming of the jail by an enraged mob that has been manipulated into believing that justice can only be served through violence. The lynch mob sequence is one of the most chillingly realistic and politically charged scenes in American film noir.

Cast & Crew

Director: Cy Endfield
Stars: Frank Lovejoy gives an extraordinary performance as the ordinary man drawn into extraordinary evil — his Howard Tyler is not a villain but a weak, desperate human being whose moral failure is completely understandable and completely unforgivable. Lloyd Bridges is chillingly charismatic as the psychopathic Jerry — his easy charm makes his capacity for violence all the more terrifying. Richard Carlson is powerfully convincing as the columnist whose pen proves deadlier than any weapon.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized edition enhances the film’s taut noir atmosphere with era-accurate hues. The shabby apartments of the desperate Tyler family, the nocturnal crime scenes, the newspaper offices, and the terrifying torch-lit mob scenes gain extraordinary visual intensity through careful colour restoration. Now also available in colour.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Released in 1950, The Sound of Fury was based on the real 1933 Brooke Hart kidnapping case in San Jose, California, which ended in the lynching of the kidnappers by a mob of thousands. Director Cy Endfield, who would soon be blacklisted during the McCarthy era, brought a fierce social consciousness to the material, creating one of the most powerful indictments of mob violence and media irresponsibility in American cinema. The film remains bracingly relevant in its examination of how fear, outrage, and media manipulation can destroy the rule of law. Through colorization, this devastating noir masterpiece is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes — professionally restored frame-by-frame
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: 85 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — play anywhere, keep forever
• Instant download: Yes — available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this based on a true story?
A: Yes — it is based on the real 1933 Brooke Hart kidnapping case, which ended in the public lynching of the kidnappers by a mob in San Jose, California — one of the last public lynchings in American history.

Q: Is this also known as Try and Get Me?
A: Yes — the film was released under both titles. The Sound of Fury is the original and more commonly referenced title, while Try and Get Me! was used for some theatrical releases.

Q: Is the mob scene really that disturbing?
A: The lynch mob sequence is considered one of the most powerful and terrifying in American cinema — its depiction of ordinary citizens transformed into a violent mob remains deeply shocking and politically relevant.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file compatible with all modern devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM protection?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free — you own it outright and can play it on any device forever.

Q: How do I receive the film after purchase?
A: You receive an instant download link immediately after payment. A backup copy of the link is also sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• Fury (1936)
• The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
• Three Brave Men (1956)
• Julie (1956)
• The Winning Team (1952)