Out of the Past

(Jacques Tourneur, US 1947, 97 min., 35mm)

Likely the apotheosis of film noir in narrative and style, Out of the Past teams Jane Greer with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas. Private detective on-the-run Jeff Bailey (Mitchum) is living a quiet life in rural California until he is tracked down by old client Whit Sterling (Douglas). Jeff’s complicated past with Kathie Moffat (Greer), Whit’s once-and-future girlfriend, puts enough pressure on Jeff to take one more job for Whit. But with everyone looking out for a double-cross, Jeff doesn’t know who to trust in order to come out alive.

Post-film discussion with Curator of Film Exhibitions Jared Case.