Review of Out of the Past (1947) by Brad G — 23 Oct 2010

Out Of the Past (1947) [dir. by Jacques Tourneur].

Jeff Bailey: Build my gallows high, baby.

A man named Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum, in his first starring role) is the proprietor of a village gas station. He is helped around his business by a deaf-mute attendant. One day a mysterious man named Joe Stephanos (Paul Valentine) shows up into town and sees the little modest business Jeff operates and asks the deaf-mute to meet Jeff. This unexpected visit brings Jeff back into his old life when he worked for a gangster named Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas, also in his first starring role). He decides to have his girl Ann (Virginia Huston) come along with him on the drive to see Sterling and his plans for Jeff. During the drive there he decides to tell her all about his past which also includes a double-crossing murderous femme fatale named Kathie (Jane Greer). In an extended flashback it is revealed as to why Joe's appearance in town is such a discomfort. It is a past full of deceit, treachery, and betrayal that extends to the present day and turns Jeff's chain-smoking life upside down.

Joe Stephanos: I often wondered what happened to him. Then one day I'm breezing through here, and there's his name up on a sign.

Marny: It's a small world.

Joe Stephanos: Yeah. Or a big sign.

This film makes cigarette smoking look so damn cool. Out Of the Past is one of the quintessential pieces of film noir. It is one of the most perfect films in the genre. Robert Mitchum was born for this role, a type of role he would back to periodically in his career and even giving Humphrey Bogart competition as one of the definitive actors of the noir genre. With a pessimistic script, beautifully moody b&w cinematography, a doomed anti-hero and a deceitful femme fatale, Out Of the Past is film noir at it's best and most essential. With a great script in hand, Jacques Tourneur skillfully directs this moody masterpiece. Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas all shine: Mitchum plays the ultra-cool, chain-smoking anti-hero perfectly and it is definitely one of his best performances; Kirk Douglas is superb as the conniving villain of this dark tale; and Jane Greer is excellent as the lethal moll of Sterling's plot to frame Jeff.

Kathie Moffett: Oh Jeff, you ought to have killed me for what I did a moment ago.

Jeff Bailey: There's time.

Out Of the Past is certainly one of the most perfectly crafted films ever made, especially of the film noir genre. Tourneur and company craft a film that is timeless. One that easily ranks as one of the best examples of the film noir genre along with The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Third Man (1949), The Big Sleep (1946), Touch Of Evil (1958), Double Indemnity (1944), Kiss Me Deadly (1955) and The Asphalt Jungle (1950). 10/10.

Jeff Bailey: Is there a slip up baby?.... Did you by any chance send your friend to find Eels dead?

Kathie Moffett: No jeff.

Jeff Bailey: Tell me.

Kathie Moffett: Don't Jeff.

Jeff Bailey: Don't what?

Kathie Moffett: I don't wanna die.

Jeff Bailey: Neither do I, baby, but if I have to I'm gonna die last.