Out Of The Past

Out Of The Past
1947- RKO
Directed by Jacques Tourneur



SYNOPSIS
A few years ago detective Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) was hired by a gangster named Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas) to find and return his woman (Jane Greer) who ran away. Bailey and the woman fell in love and hid out for a while. The two split up and Bailey quit the detective biz and runs a gas station in a small California town. Sterling's people track Bailey down and he goes to meet the gangster only to find the woman back with him. She's told Sterling everything. Sterling pressures Bailey into doing one more mission to recover some documents. Before long Bailey realizes it's a frame up. Now he has to turn the tables on Sterling.



MY THOUGHTS

If you had never seen a film noir before, this would be one hell of a way to start. Noir is a very nebulous style of film (it's not considered a genre) but this film has many essential elements.

The use of black and white cinematography with heavy contrast and shadow is probably the most important visual element in noir, and it rarely looks any better than this.
Noir is usually crime-heavy and this is no exception. Anyone can get bumped off at any time. The tone is hopeless and bleak, and the ending is equally bleak.

Robert Mitchum is the protagonist. Like countless others (The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, etc.) the hero is a private dick. Mitchum plays Bailey indifferent and cool with a quick wit. He's also morally questionable. He willingly accepts a job by a gangster. He also knowingly steals a man's woman, not once but twice.
Jane Greer plays one of the stronger femme fatales, also an essential element. She can't be trusted (by anyone) and is willing to use a gun if needed.

The use of flashback, physical locations (including oft-used San Fransisco,) and voice overs are alo essential and present.

These elements come together to create a tight quick moving story that never drags. It's highly recommended.