Desert Fury

Introduced by guest curator Imogen Sara Smith

Dir. Lewis Allen. 1947, 96 mins. 35mm. With Lizabeth Scott, Burt Lancaster. Desert Fury combines elements of the western, the gangster movie, and the melodrama, all fused in the heat of its blazing Technicolor. A cult favorite thanks to its unabashed homoerotic overtones and face-slapping flamboyance, the film is also a dense and fascinating study of emotional dependence, possessiveness, jealousy, and the desire for dominance. The terrific ensemble cast includes stand-out performances by Mary Astor and Wendell Corey as the two most prickly, frustrated, and intelligent characters. Driven by dark secrets, the story unfolds in luxurious high style against glowing landscapes, in a modern west thoroughly tainted by vice and corruption.

Tickets: $12 ($9 for senior citizens and students / free for members at the Film Lover level and above). Order tickets online. (Members may contact [email protected] with any questions regarding online reservations.)

All tickets include same-day admission to the Museum (see gallery hours). View the Museum’s ticketing policy here. For more information on membership and to join online, visit our membership page.