Blu-ray Review Out of the Past Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

[Richard Gallagher]

Out of the Past Blu-ray Review

Out of the Past, starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, and Kirk Douglas, and skillfully directed by Jacques Tourneur, is one of the most iconic and memorable examples of film noir. This beautifully photographed film has now been released with a stunning Blu-ray transfer courtesy of the Warner Archive.

Studio: Warner Brothers

Distributed By: Warner Archive

Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Audio: English 1.0 DTS-HDMA (Mono)

Subtitles: English SDH

Rating: Not Rated

Run Time: 1 Hr. 37 Min.

Package Includes: Blu-ray

Standard Blu-ray Keep Case

Disc Type:

Region: A

Release Date: 08/12/2014

MSRP: $21.99

The Production Rating: 4.5/5

Out of the Past opens in Bridgeport, California, a small town located at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, some 78 miles south of Lake Tahoe. We follow a dark convertible down Main Street until it pulls into Jeff Bailey's Service Station. The driver of the convertible is Joe Stefanos (Paul Valentine), a tall, swarthy figure in a black hat and trench coat. Stefanos is looking for Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum), but he learns that the station owner has gone fishing. He decides to wait for Jeff in the cafe across the street, where he hears some gossip about Jeff and a local woman, Ann (Virginia Huston). Jeff and Ann are in fact fishing at a nearby lake when he gets the troubling news that a man is waiting to see him.It turns out that Stefanos and Jeff have a history together, albeit it in different capacities. Both had worked for a New York racketeer named Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas). Stefanos is still one of Sterling's thugs, whereas Jeff, who was then known by his real name of Jeff Markham, was a private detective who was trusted by Sterling. Jeff changed his name and moved to Bridgeport in an effort to put his past behind him and start a new life, but now he can hide no longer. Stefanos tells him that Sterling now has a house overlooking Lake Tahoe, and he wants Jeff to drive up and meet with him.Since arriving in Bridgeport Jeff has been secretive about his life, although he has warned Ann that there are things which he has done that he has not been willing to discuss with her. The knowledge that Sterling has found him changes everything, and Jeff promises to tell Ann everything if she will ride up to Lake Tahoe with him. He then tells her about how Sterling hired him to find his girlfriend, Kathie Moffett (Jane Greer), who had shot Sterling and fled New York with $40,000 of his money, and bring her back to New York.Jeff follows Kathie to Mexico, where he finally sees her for the first time and almost immediately falls for her. She is smart and beautiful, and she denies that she stole any money from Sterling. Kathie quickly figures out that Jeff has been hired by Sterling, but she resists the temptation to run, at least in part because she finds herself attracted to Jeff. Before long their relationship blossoms into full-fledged romance, but a complication arises which forces Jeff to choose between Kathie and his obligation to his client.One of the staples of film noir is the theme of a strong man being brought to his knees by a duplicitous female. Both Jeff and Sterling are strong men, but both allow themselves to be manipulated by Kathie, even after she has repeatedly demonstrated that she cannot be trusted. Even Stefanos allows himself to be used by her. Jeff, at least, has an alternative in Ann, his Bridgeport girlfriend, who is as honest as Kathie is deceitful. The problem is that Jeff's past has caught up with him, leaving him trying to survive in a morass of lies, blackmail, and double-crosses.Out of the Past is not entirely without flaws. When the action shifts to San Francisco the plot becomes somewhat convoluted and confusing. Rhonda Fleming received fourth billing (just below Kirk Douglas) for her performance as Meta Carson, the secretary for Sterling's accountant, but she appears in only two scenes and her character then rides away in a taxi and is never seen nor heard from again. However, those are my only caveats. The script by Geoffrey Homes (a pseudonym for David Mainwaring) crackles with sharp dialogue and the story has many surprising twists and turns. Mitchum, Greer and Douglas are perfectly cast and provide thoroughly convincing performances. Mention also must be made of Jacques Tourneur's fine direction. It has been said that Tourneur had a tragic sensibility, and that sensibility certainly is on display in Out of the Past.

Video Rating: 5/5 3D Rating: NA

The 1.37:1 black & white image has been encoded with the AVC codec and has never looked better. The print is free of damage, an appropriate level of film grain has been retained, and the images are very sharp, all combining to do full justice to Nicholas Musuraca's exceptional cinematography. Strong contrast, inky black levels, and outstanding shadow detail combine to make Out of the Past the quintessence of film noir. Parts of the movie were filmed on location in Bridgeport, California and most of the buildings which are seen in the movie are still standing.

Audio Rating: 3.5/5

The DTS-HD MA mono soundtrack is very good. Dialogue is clear and understandable and the music by Roy Webb is delivered without as much as a hint of distortion. The audio is generally free of noise, hiss, and other age-related anomalies.

Special Features Rating: 2/5

The only extra on this Blu-ray disc is an insightful commentary track by author and film noir expert James Ursini, who has co-written several books on the subject.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Out of the Past is welcome addition to the growing roster of film noir on Blu-ray, and it is highly recommended for fans of the genre. Readers interested in purchasing it should visit the Warner Archive website.

Reviewed By: Richard Gallagher

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[FoxyMulder]

It was on television a month or so back in the UK, we know it as Build My Gallows High.

 

[JoHud]

It was on television a month or so back in the UK, we know it as Build My Gallows High.

Not a random title either...the movie is based on the book of that very name.

 

[Richard Gallagher]

Not a random title either...the movie is based on the book of that very name.

And the book was written by David Mainwaring under his "Geoffrey Homes" pseudonym.

 

[warnerbro]

Jane Greer is so beautiful in this film. It's worth it just to see her.

 

[Mark-P]

In the most recent WAC podcast, George Feltenstein says that Out of the Past is so popular they are now in the fourth pressing. Though he didn't say how many discs are in a pressing.

 

[Keith Cobby]

This is really good news for future releases and I think for the future of catalogue titles on blu-ray. We get some of the titles we want, the studio makes money and there are no returns. Could we have The Narrow Margin next please.

 

[Reed Grele]

Watched it again last night. It has some amazing performances. I especially like Paul Valentine who plays Joe Stephanos. He managed to make his rather small role as a thug stand out. He really added dimensionality to it. You actually care about him. He could have been a big star. Maybe he had other priorities in his life.

 

[benbess]

Thanks for this review. Spellbinding movie. Amazing pq. What a classic.

 

[benbess]

Watching this again right now for the first time in five years. Great noir. Beautiful picture quality.

 

[PianoPlayer]

And the book was written by David Mainwaring under his "Geoffrey Homes" pseudonym.

Daniel Mainwaring.

 

[Sam Favate]

I watched this last night, after getting the blu-ray from a recent WA sale. It might just be the quintessential film noir movie. It had all the elements, and executed them flawlessly. Mitchum was a great lead, and Jane Greer might be the best femme fatale in movie history.

The blu-ray looked outstanding.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I watched this last night, after getting the blu-ray from a recent WA sale. It might just be the quintessential film noir movie. It had all the elements, and executed them flawlessly. Mitchum was a great lead, and Jane Greer might be the best femme fatale in movie history.

The blu-ray looked outstanding.

I think Douglas's performance is underrated. As to the film itself, I totally agree with you regarding it's place as a film noir.

 

[Sam Favate]

Douglas was also great. He made the character likable and interesting when it could have been a caricature.

Spoiler

to the point where when Kathie killed him, my reaction was “Oh my god! She killed him too! She’s crazy!”

 

[lark144]

Douglas was also great. He made the character likable and interesting when it could have been a caricature.

For Douglas, whose over-the top scenery munching makes Laurence Olivier seem a minimalist by comparison, he was very underplayed and likable. In his scenes with Mitchum, it's as if they're having a competition to see who can be more low-key.

 

[Keith Cobby]

This is really good news for future releases and I think for the future of catalogue titles on blu-ray. We get some of the titles we want, the studio makes money and there are no returns. Could we have The Narrow Margin next please.

Could we have The Narrow Margin next please!

 

[Robert Crawford]

For Douglas, whose over-the top scenery munching makes Laurence Olivier seem a minimalist by comparison, he was very underplayed and likable. In his scenes with Mitchum, it's as if they're having a competition to see who can be more low-key.

It is known that Mitchum and Douglas didn't like each other. Mitchum thought Douglas was too much of arrogant and egotistical prick which is probably accurate while Mitchum was known as just a laid back dude that acted for a living.