Out of the Past
Jacques Tourneur's justly celebrated film noir of 1947 set the mold for all of Robert Mitchum's subsequent career -- the turtle-eyed refugee passively hiding out in his gas station until an old double-cross catches up with him. What he really fears is his mad love, Kathy, a candy box of carnality played by Jane Greer as the most fatal of femmes fatales. Kirk Douglas is as chillingly focused as his chin dimple in the part of the gangster who'll do whatever it takes to get her back, while Virginia Huston and a deaf Dickie Moore break your heart as villagers loyal to the Mitchum character. Daniel Mainwaring's script is full of choice, endlessly quotable dialogue (no one's all bad, someone says, but "she comes the closest") laced through what becomes a perhaps overly convoluted plot. (Multiple viewings reveal the relevance of a minor character's trembling reaction to his own betrayal and death.) Where the film really excels is in Mitchum's quiet fatalism, beautifully conveyed by Nicholas Musuraca's cinematography and Tourneur's gently paced direction -- once seen, who can forget Mitchum and Greer's beach assignation, all nets and light off of water?
-- Gregg Rickman
A 50th anniversary new print of Out of the Past screens Friday, Sept. 5, through Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Roxie, 3117 16th St. (at Valencia). It plays at 7 and 9:15 p.m. nightly, with additional shows at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday. Tickets are $6; call 863-1087.
