Out of the Past (1947) Reviews

What a movie. If I had to give away the term quintessential film noir to any film noir, Out of the Past could very well be it. The plot is complicated yet it is very engrossing, with plenty of effective scenes, especially that unforgettable ending. It is gorgeously shot, exceptionally directed, adeptly scripted and atmospherically scored, these are reasons enough to watch this film. But I can't write this review without praising the acting. Robert Mitchum is memorably languid as the ultra-hard-boiled former private detective, while Jane Greer is dangerously beautiful as the cold yet equally beautiful femme-fatale. Kirk Douglas is also brilliant as the soft-spoken yet truly Machiavellian gangster. Overall, Out of The Past is quite simply quintessential film noir. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This was the movie that first made me aware of "film noir" although in those days they were just known as thrillers and nothing more than that. Over the years these black and white movies have gathered a cult following. "Out of the Past" stars Robert Mitchum and the gorgeous Jane Greer. It is a sordid tale about former private detective Jeff Markham (Robert Mitchum) trying to escape his unsavoury past by running a gas station under a new name (Bailey). He wants to forget all about disreputable thug Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas in an early role) who hired him to find double dealing femme fatale Kathie Moffat (Jane Greer) after she had stolen $40,000 from him and disappeared. Greer's ravishing first appearance in the film wearing a white dress and a matching white hat is breathtaking. Bailey makes the mistake of falling for Kathie in a big way before she involves him in treachery and murder. As was quite common in 40s films at the time there was a long flashback sequence to explain Mitchum's predicament. Jane Greer apparently loved working with Mitchum and is quoted as saying that he was wonderful and most helpful to her during the shooting of the film. In 1949 she again worked with Robert Mitchum in "The Big Steal" and allegedly only landed this part because both Lizabeth Scott and Joan Bennett had turned it down. Following these two films Jane Greer became one of RKO's leading actresses and was under exclusive contract to Howard Hughes. Unfortunately Hughes had a personal obsession about her and when she married Edward Lasker (whom Hughes disliked) he refused to put her into any more pictures which resulted in Jane having to buy herself out of her contract for $11,000. Also featured in "Out of the Past" were Rhonda Fleming, Steve Brodie, Richard Webb, Virginia Huston, Paul Valentine and Dickie Moore (who later married Jane Powell). The film was expertly directed by Jacques Tourneur. When the film was first released in the U.K. it was called "Build My Gallows High" which was the title of the original best selling novel by Geoffrey Homes. The role of Jeff Bailey was turned down by both Dick Powell and John Garfield before being offered to Mitchum. Humphrey Bogart read the script and was very keen to play Jeff Bailey but as he was under contract to Warner Bros. and it was an RKO film he didn't get his wish! "Out of the Past" is a classic "film noir" which can still be enjoyed today. Mitchum and Greer made a perfect screen team and were at their very best in this film.
Favourite lines:
Kirk Douglas to Robert Mitchum: "I know a lot of smart guys, and a few honest ones. You're both".
Mitchum to Douglas: "You liked me because you could use me. You could use me because I was smart. I'm not smart anymore. I run a gas station".