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Out Of The Past [1947]
![Out Of The Past [1947]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512HEuiUmGL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £9.99
Our Price: £4.98 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
"Build my gallows high, baby"--just one of the quintessentially noir sentiments expressed by Robert Mitchum in this classic of the genre. Mitchum, in absolute prime, sleepy-eyed form, relates a complicated flashback about getting hired by gangster Kirk Douglas to find femme fatale Jane Greer. The chain of film noir elements--love, money, lies--drags Mitchum into the lower depths. Director Jacques Tourneur gets the edgy negotiations between men and women as exactly right as he gets the inky shadows of the noir landscape (even the sunlit exteriors are fraught with doubt). This is Mitchum in excelsis, with his usual laid-back cool laced with great dialogue and tragic foreshadowing. As for his co-star, James Agee immortally opined that Jane Greer "can best be described, in an ancient idiom, as a hot number." Remade in 1984, unhappily, as Against All Odds (with Greer in a supporting role). --Robert Horton
Editorial
Synopsis
Curious tale of a private eye who is hired by a villain to find his homicidal girlfriend. But the story takes a twist when he tracks her down and promptly falls in love with her.
Great Noir
Review date: 2008-02-29 Rating: 10 out of 10
A classic noir with Robert Mitchum as an ex-PI hiding out in a town until the past comes calling. Jane Greer is the femme fatale and Kirk Douglas plays the mobster Mitchum once wronged. I'd recommend this movie along with `The Killers'. Classics.
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Reviews
Diamond Jubilee time!
Review date: 2008-01-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
This film is now 60 years old.
Time to get a copy & celebrate. You WON'T be disappointed.
There are 3 compelling reasons. First, good film noirs either have a slow progression of inevitable events that hurtle the characters to their doom, or they have a manic sequence of events as the world goes suddenly mad;this one has a stonking mixture of both.
Second, events usually unwind once the female is heavily involved in affairs. If you think Claire Trevor(Born to Kill) or Peggy Cummins(Gun Crazy) were girls to avoid, Jane Greer in this film is one to run away from-if you can! You get the feeling she is one you'd still feel compelled to commit murder for, to stop her from killing you!
Third, the eternal triangle here has 3 very sharp sides. It ain't just Robert Mitchum loves Jane Greer, and Kirk Douglas ditto-1947 Hollywood or not, the 2 male leads are possibly more than best buddies,too. Most interesting variation, this, and subtely etched on by director Jaques Tournier, who was still producing great films 10 years after this(Night of the Demon).
As if 3 superb performances wasn't another definite reason to buy, Steve Brodie, as a creepy Dudley Doright Forest Ranger trying to get the nice country girl, Rhonda Fleming, away from Bob Mitchum is a minor but much appreciated role. Another sign of a good film noir is that black and white become very blurred and interchangeable.
Well, that's enough-the plot you can find out for youself-you surely don't need any more reasons to buy, do you?
Out of the Past
Review date: 2007-09-12 Rating: 6 out of 10
This film was originally known as "Build my Gallows High". Although a good film I was thrown by the title given to it in your lists.
Some other customers may wish to note?
Film noir classic
Review date: 2007-03-21 Rating: 10 out of 10
Brutal, dark, intelligent and disturbing, but also with a great balance of warm and humour to make it even more complex and fascinating. That is how this film can be described. Made with great craftmanship and intellingence. This film is great example of film noir genre, a true classic.
Also there's no better example of femme fatale than Jane Greer is in this film. Gives me gooze bumps everytime I watch this film- really scarry. Leading men Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas (who gives a short but effective and chilling performance) are stellar.
The picture quality is good enough and the sound is too, though at the beginning of the film the audio track is cracking quite a lot, but in this kind of a film, it only gives more edge to the overall experience.
One of the best film noir
Review date: 2007-03-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
Finally available on DVD, I saw this on BBC2 a few months ago when they ran a season of late night b/w noir films.
Although not one of the best known this is easily one of the very best noir films. Robert Mitchum is perfect as the weather beaten anti-hero and he seems to really relish his slouchy role, which I think is a big influence on the Bruce Willis character in last year's Sin City.
If you liked The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, Kiss Me Deadly etc. then this one is definitely for you. I've ordered and am looking forward to a chance to see the great film again...
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Kirk Douglas
Jane Greer
Robert Mitchum
Rhonda Fleming
Creators:
Jane Greer (Primary Contributor)
Robert Mitchum (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582434576
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Black & White, PAL,
Release date: 2007-02-12
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1947
Language: English (Original Language)