Out of the Past
|
List Price: Our Price: $17.48 You Save: $2.50 (13%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $14.35 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Out of the Past
Movie Review: "Build my Gallows High, Baby"
Summary: 4 Stars
Jacques Tourneur's Out of the Past is a cinematic gem, and - in all its two-timing glory - stands as a quintessential film noir. For every burst of violence the film turns out (and they are numerous), Out of the Past compensates with a clever change in plot and witty dialogue to suit. Sharp lines like "[Kathy], you're like a leaf that the wind blows from one gutter to another..." set Out of the Past apart from other, stale crime films by engaging the viewer with their satirical genius.
Out of the Past blends the present with a series of flashbacks. The film begins with Jeff Bailey, a small-town gas attendant, whose mysterious past catches up with him when he is ordered to meet with the infamous gambler, Whit Sterling. En route to meet with Sterling, Jeff reveals the details of his past to his girlfriend - of his former career as a private investigator, the elusive job he was hired by Sterling to complete, and his subsequent ruin. The story that follows documents Jeff's desperate attempts to satisfy Sterling and once-and-for-all abandon his former life of crime. Yet (in typical Film Noir style) Jeff's road to freedom is anything but easy, and his ensuing journey features various curves in the road. Those fateful curves, of course, belong to the story's obligatory femme fatale, Kathy.
Movie Review: Enjoyable, sexy and dark!
Summary: 4 Stars
Mitchum stars in a noir film that specifically suits his reticent, subversive style. "Out of the Past" is true to the noir genre. The plot--an unusually savvy detective is set up as a "chump" by the femme fatale. He falls for her only to be used in her machinations to gain power and money. Ultimately he refuses to be manipulated anymore and participates in her downfall. In this film we also see the potential for this character if he falls for an honest woman who can be lovingly believe in him. But the deeds of his past catch up with him--happily ever after is not in the cards.
This film was filmed in gorgeous black and white, meticulously framed in each shot whether capturing a closeup of gorgeous Mitchum and Greer, or stunning location shots in San Francisco, the Rockies and Mexico. This is Mitchum in his prime right before the he was busted for marijuana. Enjoyable, sexy and dark!
Movie Review: Greater Now Than Then
Summary: 4 Stars
Out of the Past was ignored by Hollywood when it came out in 1947. Not one Academy nomination is hard to believe. It's far more appreciated now plus has solidified its status as one of the Top 5 Noir movies all-time.
Snappy dialog, wonderful use of shadows and incredible cinematography push this film into the upper echelon of must-see noir films. The plot is convoluted but Mitchum and Greer have enough incendiary chemistry to keep things interesting. For the record, the line is: A dame with a rod is like a guy with a knitting needle. (Steve Brodie as Jack Fisher)
Great use of locations in the Sierra Nevada. Bonus seeing a smoldering Rhonda Fleming as Meta Carson. Virginia Huston, Mitchum's goody girlfriend, is so milquetoast one can see why Robert Mitchum would be hot for Greer. She never looked better.
Movie Review: Dynamite Acting in Classic Noir
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is distinguished most by the solid acting of the three principal actors, Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, and Jane Greer. Mitchum is his usually solid self as the guy whose trying to make a clean break from his past but is unwittingly dragged back into it. Douglas is deliciously sleazy as the gangster who previously employed Mitchum and is now dragging him back in for one more job. Greer is seductive as the woman who both men share(or do they?) who may be playing both of them for saps. Manipulation and the double-cross are in evidence here, and the primary strengths of this film is the writing and acting. One letdown, though, is that the production code probably doesn't allow for Mitchum to get the girl.Movie Review: A LESSER KNOWN FILM NOIR CLASSIC
Summary: 4 Stars
One of the lesser known film noir classics compared to MALTESE FALCON or DOUBLE INDEMNITY or SUNSET BOULEVARD. Based on a novel titled BUILD MY GALLOWS HIGH. It's a true tale of cross and double cross. Good deal of tension building in this story with tight plotting and snappy dialog. One of the best parts was by film critic James Ursini who talks about film noir as well as some interesting tidbits that viewers might have missed. The action by the mute boy at the end, well, I didn't see that so it was a good catch. Note that this movie was later remade into AGAINST ALL ODDS (following a somewhat similar tale) and Jane Greer played the mother of the new female lead. WHEN WATCHED: 10/03/2010; MY GRADE: B.