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.


http://www.filmmonthly.com/Noir/Articles/OutOfThePast/greer%20mitchum.jpg

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

Enjoy!

[Terryhimself]

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