Out of the Past (1947)

A thin but well-shot suspense melodrama, kept from collapsing by the suggestiveness and intensity that the director, Jacques Tourneur, pours on. It's empty trash, but you do keep watching it. Kirk Douglas, a gangster, hires Robert Mitchum to find Jane Greer, who has run away from him. Predictably, she gets Mitchum (at his most somnolent-sexy droopy-eyed) in her clutches, and there are several killings before matters are resolved. The screenplay is by Geoffrey Homes (a pseudonym of Daniel Mainwaring), from his novel Build My Gallows High. Cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca; with Rhonda Fleming and Dickie Moore. RKO. (Pauline Kael Review)

What do you think of this movie ?

I watched this at the Glasgow Film Theatre Cinema on Wednesday night as part of my evening course "Hollywood Decades".

It stars Robert Mitchum as a detective who is sent by Kirk Douglas playing a gangster to find and bring back his girlfriend played by Jane Greer.

But when Mitchum tracks down Greer they fall in love and run away together but there past eventually catches up with them.

I really enjoyed the film, found it very exciting and interesting as it kept you guessing what was going to happen next.

Next Wednesday night on the course we will discussing the film and other Film Noir movies of the 1940s.

Nina

I just watched this film a couple of weeks ago. I can't help liking any film that puts Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas together. Douglas was quite good at playing the bad guy. I especialy liked his character in this film because he wasn't just a mobster thug, he had brains, and he did things with tack and cleverness. Mitchum's character was a fool to try and cover things up when the first murder takes place. I don't care how much I love someone I would have turned her in and taken the heat. The film has all the elements of a classic film noir including a noir ending. I'd give the film 3 out 5 stars.

Kevin

ROBERT MITCHUM is one of Hollywood's real greats. He could convey so much with so little -real economy of expression. Something he had in common I feel with BARBARA STANWYCK.

He played two of the most effectively sinister psychos in Hollywood film history in NIGHT OF THE HUNTER and CAPE FEAR.

And he's really good also in a slightly obscure but interesting Western called TRACK OF THE CAT, set in the snowy wastes of some Northern state, maybe Montana. It's a real Cold War Western- about a big cat out in the forest, a symbol of paranoia and fear.

And I'd give OUT OF THE PAST more than 3 out of 5 I think, 7 or 8 out of 10. It's good.

Out of the Past has very good (perhaps not great) story to it that relies a bit too much on trying to befuddle the viewer -- it does require paying attention to what is going on, but that can be hard to do when absorbed with listening to the language and becoming engrossed in the aura.

Quite simply, Out of the Past is to me the best example of what we all basically feel a proper film noir should sound, look and feel like. It will definitely be getting more viewings from myself.

8+/10.

I have some problems with this film. The cast in particular make me feel it should add up to a bit more than it does. I think maybe I should try viewing this again or it might just be one of those classics with characters/ actions I can't relate to like Gunga Din (1939).

My score for the moment at least is 2 out of 5.

I think that it's a pretty good movie, overall. Classic noir. My favorite thing about it was Kirk Douglas's performance as Whit Sterling. . . I thought that it was almost flawless, and that Sterling was a great character. Robert Mitchum does a pretty good job, too. I guess I'd give it 7/10 overall.

One of the best of '47 and Jane Greer was perfect. One of Mitchum's best and I liked when Kirk Douglas played sleazy types when he was younger.

I watched it a few days ago and I found it very impressive. The mood and atmosphere of the movie is spot on, definitive noir. It isn't in the big league alongside The Big Sleep or Double Imdemnity etc. but it isn't far away either. It has a wonderful cast, marvellous acting, excellent dialogue etc but it amounts to much more than the sum of it's parts, overall it's hugely enjoyable. I would give it 8.5 out of 10.

I couldnt agree more . Mitchum and Greer were excellent together . It was easy to see why he fell under her spell