Out of the Past (1947)'s comments

Do you want to let us know what you think? Just login, after which you will be redirected back here and you can leave your comments.

Limbesdautomne

Some films melt in the mouth, and some... permeate body and soul with their smoky atmosphere.

Read more in French on La Saveur des goûts amers.

6 years 11 months ago

saydin7

this movie is the best film noir that ive ever seen.
Amazing story,2 great actors and 3 beautiful ladies. it was overflowing

13 years 10 months ago

jhhayes

I love Douglas & Mitchum, but this film is way overrated.

7 years 3 months ago

The problem with an old film being a signpost of its genre is that it can seem like nothing but clichés in the present day. Cigarettes, dames, guns, trenchcoats, corny narration, syrupy orchestrations, the overly "written" dialogue, yes yes. And the women all look alike with their similar haircuts, makeup and solid-color dresses. I'm not much of a film-noir fan, but I hoped to enjoy this more than I predicted. No such luck.

12 years 3 months ago

Siskoid

There's nothing Noir-ish - a term I too frequently use - about Out of the Past. This Robert Mitchum vehicle is as Noir as Noir gets, no ish about it. You get the in medias res structure, the convoluted crime plot that's hard to follow on first watch, beautiful black and white cinematography signed Jacques Tourneur (Cat People), crackling hard-boiled dialog (even from, like, the diner's waitress), and a femme fatale at the center of the story. And I feel like they took the concept of the double-crossing femme and ramped it up to 11. Is Jane Greer's character redeemable at all? Well, the picture will tell. If the movie is about anything, it's about weakness. In a Noir world of flawed individuals, it seems reductive to call any character "evil". So what actually drives them if not those same, very human flaws, and what tragic mistakes might one make following the wrong impulse? Also includes a coolly menacing performance by Kirk Douglas, and one of the most savage fist fights put to film in classic Hollywood movies. But yeah, I was often lost in the plot mechanics.

3 years 11 months ago

dombrewer

I'm veering towards Ebbywebby's summary - it was all extremely well made, but somehow it didn't grab me. Mostly it was the lead performances - Mitchum affects so much nonchalance and does so little as Jeff he actually began to bore me with his emotional absence. There's cool, and then there's "whatever". Bogart, who wanted the role, would have been perfect. Jane Greer has a peach of a part as permanently scheming Kathie, but I didn't think she was half attractive or talented enough - she looked tired and like she was about to cry most of the time. Rhonda Fleming in a smaller, similarly conniving, role would have made a sparkier and sexier Kathie in my opinion. Kirk Douglas and Paul Valentine play their villainous roles to perfection. I loved the dark cinematography and corkscrew plot, but the hard boiled wisecracking plot started to get on my nerves and the end seemed senseless - spoiler

. I think there are smarter, wittier and darker noirs out there.

11 years 7 months ago

pallmallandcoke

i'm in love with this movie.

12 years 1 month ago

aironet

This movie is pure genius! My favorite film noir and that's saying something.

12 years 7 months ago

Dieguito

Great movie, the typical Noir, one of the best!

12 years 8 months ago

browniemcfi

Absolutely amazing movie, gripping and brilliantly acted. Jane Greer is gorgeous!

13 years 1 month ago

Flowneppets

This film is a flawless masterpiece.

13 years 3 months ago

Pike

This and Double Indemnity are the best noirs I have seen. Mitchum was cool as hell, Kirk Douglas was a vicious bastard. Great dialouge, literally razor-sharp and an astoundingly violent climax. Good stuff.

13 years 4 months ago

-1flb2-

Great movie. Mitchum & Douglas what else could you ask for. Great dialogue and one liners. Film still holds up till today.

7 years 10 months ago

SlappyVega

Kirk Douglas is the one to watch in this one. He holds that sly grin as long as he can. Greatness.

9 years ago