Out of the Past
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Movie Reviews of Out of the Past
Movie Review: Exquisite Film Noir belongs on the Top Shelf
Summary: 5 Stars
The DVD transfer on this Warner Bros. release is very good. It's clear and looks good enough to represent the first screenings of this movie.
It's really hard to find a better film of this genre, even if you look to the more notable films of dark ilk like the "The Maltese Falcon" or "Chinatown". Robert Mitchum is excellent as the still idealistic PI who is hired for his honesty to find a mobster's girl. The mobster (Kirk Douglas) just wants the girl back, forget the 40 grand she took as she left. It doesn't make a lot of sense until you see our drop-dead gorgeous femme fatale (Jane Greer). Now you know why the mobster is willing to forget the money and hire someone outside his gangster buddies to find her. From that point, we fall into a whirlpool of intrigue, lust, betrayal and....oh yes, murder.
Have I mentioned the perfect ending? I won't tell. Some reviewers waste space with extended plat synopsis. I should have given you just enough information to bring you home. Buy this DVD, either as a single or better yet, with the Warner Bros. Video box set, "Film Noir Classic Collection" (volume 1). "Out of the Past" belongs on your top shelf and you can trust me on this one.
Highly Recommended to: Film noir fans, non-noir people who need to be converted and to all movie fans, regardless of situation.
Movie Review: YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT
Summary: 5 Stars
I make no bones about the fact that I love film noir. Something about the simple plot lines, the sparse and functional language and the beauty of black and white photography has always perked my interest. Well, dear reader, in the film noir classic Out of the Past you get all these in plenty. Take one on the run former detective Jeff who still has plenty of smarts and detecting ability played by a young Robert Mitchum. Take one drop dead beautiful mobster's mistress Kathy who is a little quick with a gun in a tight spot, or perhaps she is just misunderstood, played by Jane Greer. Take one unforgiving mobster Whit with a very long memory and plenty of time to get even played with a nice touch of modern evil by an also young Kirk Douglas. Add in a little morality play in the tension between Mitchum's ultimately ambiguous love for the `bad' Kathy and his new `good' love Ann found while on the run. Further add in some outstandingly shot scenes that highlight the dramatic tension. That mix gives you all the ingredients for what I describe as film noir's film noir. See this movie if you want to know what noir is all about.
Movie Review: "Build my gallows high, baby!"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is without a doubt one of the best film noirs ever made, & with a very impressive cast. The director brilliantly cast Mitchum & Douglas as rivals & of course the beautiful yet deadly Jane Greer as the femme fatale. Mitchum is perfect as the private detective who loses control of his life after falling for Douglas' "girlfriend", played by Jane Greer. Douglas, although virtually unknown in Hollywood at the time of this film, also gives an incredible performance as a ruthless mobster determined to own Greer at all cost. I've seen dozens of film noirs but I can't think of one with as much snappy dialogue as this one. The screenwriter, Geoffrey Homes was truly gifted & made this film timeless. And of course, the talented Jacques Tourneur flawlessly directed this great classic & created one of the most memorable film noirs ever. The picture quality of the dvd is excellent & there's very informative commentary that helped me fully understand the complicated plot. This masterpiece is a must-have for any fan of film noirs. In fact, it'd be hard for anyone to not like this movie!Movie Review: A MOVIE THAT WILL LINGER
Summary: 5 Stars
A great movie from RKO Pictures, 1947, and I was between 3 and 4 years old!
Watching this classic and classy movie again I feel both humor and black humor as intended, noir, as the French termed it. Also, watching Mitchum being treated as a pin ball in a machine, soon makes you want to distrust everyone else in the picture, while looking for the frame too.
It was a difficult movie to be in as almost everyone of note ends up dead and only the two people you would least suspect are the only ones having a shot, no pun intended, at a happy ending.
This is truly a magnificent motion picture that will linger with the viewer, one to be watched again and again. I think I first saw the movie on TV in glorius black and white and not a thing has changed over the years.
If you like Mitchum, Greer, and Douglas this is a film for you. Though most of these folks are now dead they have left us a terrific picture from those far gone days.
Semper Fi.
Movie Review: Film Noir at its Best
Summary: 5 Stars
When you hear the cliche, "they don't make them like they used to" this is one of those movies they refer to. Superb interchanges between Kirk Douglas and Robert Mitchum. Dialoge right out of those drug store pulp fiction novels, a movie that relies on plot, intreigue and innuendo rather than special effects. The script writers got it just right and the actors deliver the lines perfectly. Even if you can see the plot or twists, it is still fun to watch how well the actors pull it off.
This is such a classic, new film buffs and those who grew up with B&W movies will all appreciate this movie.
Just as a FYI - They did a remake many years later with Rachel Ward and Jeff Bridges "Against All Odds". Same plot, bit racier of course since the standards have changed. That was good as well, but not quite up to the orginal.