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Out of the Past | Year: 1947 Classification: Drama Directed: - Jacques Tourneur Actors/Actresses: - Robert Mitchum - Jane Greer - Kirk Douglas Classic Film Noir This classic film noir, featuring the twin cleft-chinned presences of<br>Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas, has got to be one of the most<br>enjoyable ever made. It's not the somewhat confusing plot, but the<br>snappy dialogue -- and the confident acting -- which makes it work so<br>well. The repartee ("A woman with a rod is like a man with a<br>knitting needle") is worthy of some of the best screwball<br>comedies and yet it's just as dark as a noir should be in terms of the<br>desperate things the characters do and the terrible things that happen<br>to them as a consequence. Jacques Tourneur ("Cat People",<br>"I Walked With a Zombie") directs with finesse, but the<br>importance of an ace writer like James M. Cain ("The Postman<br>Always Rings Twice") -- uncredited for some reason -- can't be<br>stressed enough. He deserves as much credit for the success of the<br>film as Tourneur, Mitchum, Douglas, and shapely femme fatale Jane<br>Greer, the woman who seduces both Mitchum and Douglas -- rod in hand.<br><br> "I know a lot of smart guys and a few honest ones." In the film "Out of the Past" Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) is the owner of a small garage in the sleepy town of Bridgeport, California. He keeps to himself, and that arouses the suspicions of the locals, and some of them disapprove of the fact that he's courting the saintly Ann Miller. One day, a mysterious stranger appears in town bearing a summons from Tahoe-based gangster, Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas). Bailey reluctantly agrees to meet Sterling. They have some unfinished business together, and Bailey cannot refuse. A protagonist running away from a sordid past is a popular theme in film noir. In "Out of the Past" Bailey's pre-Bridgeport history catches up with him, and suddenly it's time to face past mistakes. Years before, Bailey was a New York private detective. He was hired by Sterling to track down Sterling's runaway girlfriend, Kathie (Jane Greer)--as well as the $40,000 that disappeared with her. Kathie, apparently, used Sterling for a little target practice before she disappeared. Bailey begins searching for Kathie, and, eventually, he catches up with her .... Apparently, Humphrey Bogart was slated for the role of Bailey. Mitchum does a credible job--he's not as edgy as Bogart, and there's a certain laconic sloth to his personality. It's easy to accept Mitchum as the corruptible P.I. who accepts a dirty job from Sterling, and it's no stretch of the imagination to see Mitchum falling for Kathie. As a Dark City femme fatale, Greer delivers a stellar performance. Bailey tells her: "You're like a leaf that the wind blows from one gutter to another." Kirk Douglas as gangster Whit Sterling really adds to the atmosphere of the film. He has a chilly politeness and ironic--yet threatening--sense of humour. For film noir fans, "Out of the Past" is a hidden gem. Unfortunately, the plot loses some of its tight drama when the action moves to San Francisco. This results in a red herring or two which detracts from the action and the tension. This slight flaw noted, however, film noir fans will enjoy the performances, and the dialogue is full of acid-based one-liners--displacedhuman Out Of the Past , a Great Movie a Must to Watch. The movie " Out of the Past " relates to the classic Film Nior in the purest of forms. The story centres around three central characters played by Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer & Kirk Douglas interestedly appearing in his second movie role . The supporting characters also add to the movie allowing the creation of a film classic rated 5 STAR all the way. The direction, cinematography, script, and acting are professionally brought together into a scheming mass of cross and double cross. The result a classic. The outstanding character has to go to Kathie Moffit's [ Jane Greer] role as the feme fatele. Ms Greer without doubt acted her way through this picture taking command in all scenes making the others look ordinary even Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas in this picture fall into second and third place behind this remarkable actress and brillant performance. Literally changing persons in each scene, soft beautiful mistress to a take control woman who simply manipulates the men in her life without thought or mercy. Mitchum is as always superb as the private detective who takes on a job [ told through flashback ] travels through Mexico and falls in love with the very subject he has set out to return to crime boss Whit Sterling played by Kirk Douglas. They escape from Acapulco to San Francisco hoping not to be discovered however, they are by Mitchum's former partner who follows the "Dame" to a small cabin where he is killed through a punch it out fist fight with Mitchum, only to be gunned down and murdered by Kathie Moffit. Mitchum is left to "Dump the Body " and assumes a new role in life one of a owner of a small town filling station. Once again he is discovered by Whit's connections and brought into the greatest double whammy of all time with murder and double cross cumulating in a surprising ending on a country road not unlike the Bonnie and Clyde movie some 15 years later. Supporting roles add to the movie's success. Virginia Houston playing Ann the country town girl dominated by her parents but falling for Robert Mitchum, the secretive "Jeff Bailey" alas Jeff Markam the guy who's wrong for her all the way. Rhonda Fleming portrays a dishonest secretary who double deals, with her boss paying the price with his life and the "Set Up" to frame Robert Mitchum, her goal is to only get some fast cash not caring who she messes up along the way. Well played. Dickie Moore plays the "KID" a deaf mute filling station attendant who has a strong loyalty to Mitchum that no words can describe. The kid shown in the opening scenes with gunmen Joe Stephanos[played by Paul Valentine] is being treated with disdain and arrogance. In the final scenes Joe tracks Robert Mitchum to an isolated fishing spot by following the KID and climbs to a high vantage point above the river to take aim with a his 45 automatic, he is pulled suddenly by the kid from the high ledge falling to his death in the river. The kid simply used his fishing line and hook t Buy Out Of The Past at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  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