Out of The Past

[MK]

I am reposting this from the old Lounge:

I had read that Robert Mitchum in Out of The Past was one of the classic film noir movies. I rented it, popped it in the vcr and was ready. I was all set....until the message that that Ted Turner had butchered the film by colorizing it. WHY would you colorized a movie celebrated as one of the great noir films????

I couldn't believe that I watched 10 minutes of it before I came up with the clever idea of turning off the color. I am sure no one has ever thought of that.

I was amazed at the difference. There was so much more depth seeing it in the original composition. Black and white is glorious.

Anyway....it is a very good movie. Lots of fedoras, cars, trenchcoats, intrigue.....and lots of cigarettes! Mitchum smokes a pack in every scene. My throat hurt just watching that guy. It did add a look to the film though.

If have not seen it, you should. I am going back today to look for more Mitchum noir.

Enjoy!

 

[Terryhimself]

A better time

I notice there have not been a lot of responces to your post.

I believe when you look at movies from this period and see people like Mitchum, Bogart,Flynn, Cagney and a dozen others, you just can't really critique the style. It was a time when men were men and nobody mentioned that bulge under the jacket.
It is just a blessing that so many great movies have survived to
give us so much enjoyment.....Terry

 

[Fortune & Glory]

MK --

Your post actually got me off the fence and made me decide to register here. Thanks for that.

Out of the Past is really one of the great noirs of all time, and I would argue films, period, regardless of genre. It is the perfect picture to introduce someone to noir with, for the simple reason that it has all the genre's archetypes and uses them to tremendous effect. It's essentially 'Noir 101'.

Jane Greer will always be my favorite femme fatale because of this film -- her entrance into La Mar Azul is one of the most oft-copied moments in film history, something that has become a cliche it's been done so much.

As for you, MK, I'd love to hear what else you've seen and perhaps suggest a film or two if you're game so that I might hear you opinions -- Detour, Gun Crazy, and The Lady From Shanghai immediately come to mind, though they are lesser known films to many and sometimes hard to find. And in pinch, ANYTHING photographed by John Alton will do. His cinematography is a show unto itself, and I would even dust off a word I don't often use -- definitive.

But now I'm ranting. Congrats to all on the creation of what seems a nice and dignified corner of the world, here.

F&G

 

[basbol13]

In the words of Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas).....

You're gonna take the rap and play along. You're gonna make every exact move I tell you. If you don't, I'll kill you. And I'll promise you one thing: it won't be quick. I'll break you first. You won't be able to answer a telephone or open a door without thinking, 'This is it.' And it when it comes, it still won't be quick. And it won't be pretty. You can take your choice.

What else can be said about a CLASSIC!!!!!

 

[Fading Fast]

In the words of Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas).....

You're gonna take the rap and play along. You're gonna make every exact move I tell you. If you don't, I'll kill you. And I'll promise you one thing: it won't be quick. I'll break you first. You won't be able to answer a telephone or open a door without thinking, 'This is it.' And it when it comes, it still won't be quick. And it won't be pretty. You can take your choice.

What else can be said about a CLASSIC!!!!!

This or "Paths of Glory" is my favorite Kirk Douglas film as he doesn't ham it up at all, plays it straight, shows great range and holds his own against Mitchum in Mitchum's movie.

And bonus points for bouncing a thread forward just under 13 years. Has to be close to a record bounce.

 

[Zombie_61]

I finally saw Out of the Past last night, and really enjoyed it. Great locations, cars, and clothes, and a lot of fun watching Mitchum, Douglas, and Greer play off of each other.

...it is a very good movie. Lots of fedoras, cars, trenchcoats, intrigue.....and lots of cigarettes! Mitchum smokes a pack in every scene. My throat hurt just watching that guy. It did add a look to the film though...

According to IMDb.com, "Robert Mitchum told Roger Ebert he smoked so much, that when the camera was rolling on this film and Kirk Douglas offered him a pack and asked, 'Cigarette?', Mitchum, realizing he'd carried a cigarette into the scene, held up his fingers and replied, 'Smoking.' His improvisation saved the take, and they kept it in the movie."

 

[emigran]

Have seen it so many times... It is just great ... beautiful femme fatales, rain-coated chain-smoking tough guys with fab fedoras and bulges, luncheonette counter waitresses... did I mention tough guys... Story lines, plot,settings, background characters, dialogue to beat the band... will stop and watch anytime I catch it.
"Was he going with her..."

 

[Blackthorn]

Great movie, one of the best. I also love that when they redid it in 1984 as a very eighties kind of movie, Jane Greer played one of the main characters in that one as well, a kind of Hollywood inside joke.

 

[MisterCairo]

What's a "vcr"?

 

[Zombie_61]

What's a "vcr"?

Video Cassette Recorder.

 

[MisterCairo]

Video Cassette Recorder.

Zombie, my friend, I know, I was being cheeky!

 

[Zombie_61]

Zombie, my friend, I know, I was being cheeky!

Oh, sorry. I missed the "sarcasm" tags.

 

[MisterCairo]

Oh, sorry. I missed the "sarcasm" tags.

I actually wish we still had a functioning VCR, mainly to see obscure films that haven't been made available on DVD or blu-ray. The ones we had though broke, and naturally no one repairs them.

We may check out craigslist or kijjijji to see what's out there.

 

[green papaya]

I have it on DVD , it's an excellent movie , I have only seen it in original B&W , I noticed they do a lot of smoking in that movie.

he would smoke a cigarette every chance he gets