Out of the Past

Robert Mitchum going head-to-head with Kirk Douglas while Jane Greer stabs everyone in the back, what's not to like? Well, the rest of the film is only so-so. It seems I am hard to please in the case of classic noir films, for example I think 'Double Indemnity is overrated as is 'The Maltese Falcon'. I prefer 'The Big Sleep' style of noir film, which this is not.

Very well written and engaging

One of the masterpieces of film noir that every fan needs to see.

The first half of the movie shows us the past, that the hero (Robert Mitchum) is running from. Those past ghosts are the fem-fatal (Jane Greer) and gambler (Kirk Douglas). The second half is the three of them dancing with plots and counter plots, rushing to a final conclusion. It's works and well worth watching.

Can Hollywood really make a pure film noir? If so, this is one of them. Robert Mitchum shines as the man as composed as he is doomed. Jane Greer is darkly feminine as the girl who never lets you get close enough to hurt her. Kirk Douglas is creepy and cool as the man too rich to play by anyone's rules but his own.