Review of Out of the Past (1947) by Padraig W — 29 Jul 2009
The quintessential Robert Mitchum movie. Mitchum, the guy who is so laconic, he could snore as fast as hit you. Mitchum, the guy every guy wanted to be. Mitchum, the guy who worked out that the coolest way to be cool was not to be cool, not play cool. The man was iconic and is a legend.
And a bloody good actor, as this film shows. Mitchum played in a series of RKO film noir features, and this was the best of them. In addition to his pungent and dangerous sexual charisma, he shows a surprising vulnerability. This man has been hurt - clawed over - by a woman, and try though he might to stay out of vixen vexation, he can't through nobility that he can't shake. It is a wonderful performance, beautifully contrasted with Kirk Douglas' supercharged arrogant macho presence.
This is a Jacques Tourneur movie. That means a beautiful dreamlike langurous quality hangs over the film. It brings a feeling of inevitability to the proceedings as the amorality play winds its way to its wonderful conclusion that you can never get out of the past. It just pulls you back in every time.
This review of Out of the Past (1947) was written by Padraig W on 29 Jul 2009.
Out of the Past has generally received very positive reviews.
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