A Noir Classic

Out of the Past provided Robert Mitchum his first star billing and he didn't squander the opportunity. He plays Jeff Markum, a small town gas station owner living under an alias to hide a mysterious past. One day that past stops by and he knows there'll be no hiding from it this time.

Jeff had been a private detective years before and had taken on some work for a sleazy gangster named Whit (Kirk Douglas). Jeff was to track down a beautiful woman, Kathie (Jane Greer), and bring here back to Whit. But along the way Jeff fell in love with her and they made their escape, at least for a time. We're told this story as Jeff recounts it to his new love, a small-town girl whose family is intensely suspicious of him.

Whit has summoned Jeff for a new job, but Jeff knows he can't be trusted. The plot consists of a series of maneuverings by Jeff, Whit and Kathie as each tries to gain the upper hand. But time is running out for all three as the authorities search for the murderer of Whit's accountant. This is definitely not the type of film you can guess the ending of.

Out of the Past is quintessential film noir. All the elements are here: the cynicism, the character's isolation and the all pervading sense of impending doom.

This film is excellently directed and edited. Not a moment is wasted in extraneous diversions, and the timing of each scene is impeccable. While the cinematography is not superlative, it is competent, and when working with the low key lighting of film noir, this is saying a lot. Mitchum, Greer and Douglas all offer fine performances as do the supporting cast members.

-- Robert Stewart