For Once, Noir Alley’s Red Eddie Muller Delivers the Goods, Hosting the Classic Film Noir, Jacques Tourneur’s Out of the Past (1947), Starring Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer, with Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Steve Brodie, Virginia Huston and Paul Valentine, at Saturday Night-Sunday Morning at Midnight and 10 a.m. ET

 

 

[Re: “The Definitive Film Noir.”]

By David in TN
Friday, June 3, 2022 at 9:32:00 P.M. EDT

 

Jane Greer (1924-2001) and Robert Mitchum (1917-1997)

TCM’s Film Noir of the Week Saturday Night-Sunday Morning at Midnight and 10 a.m. ET is Jacques Tourneur’s Out of the Past (1947) with Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Steve Brodie, Virginia Huston and Paul Valentine.

Film Noir Guide, in conclusion: “Mitchum is sensational as the classic noir protagonist, doomed because he has stumbled into the web of a lethal [sic] femme fatale, convincingly played by the beautiful Greer.

“Douglas is terrific as the vicious, but lovesick, gangster who will forgive Greer anything, including shooting him four times. Despite its convoluted plot, Out of the Past really delivers and is worthy of its reputation as the quintessential film noir.”

[N.S.: "Lethal femme fatale" is redundant; a "femme fatale" translates from the french as "deadly woman."]

David in TN: Eddie Muller showed Out of the Past a few years ago on Noir Alley.

Rhonda Fleming (1923-2020) and Robert Mitchum

Our friend, author of The Criminal Justice Club Walt Lewis’ father had a job with the studios. One of his father’s girlfriends was Rhonda Fleming—“On one of his visits, he brought with him his then current girlfriend, movie star Rhonda Fleming. We took a ride in his black convertible...Ms. Fleming had a wonderful singing voice. She was singing along with a song playing on the radio. While I was watching her sing, her long, red hair blowing in the wind, I remember thinking this was the most gorgeous creature I had ever seen. Even at age 14, I had a real appreciation for female beauty.”

N.S.: In Out of the Past, the Fleming character works in a store selling expensive furniture and fixtures. Mitchum’s character approaches her, seeking information. She’s initially reluctant to provide him with any. So, he grabs one of her shoulders with one hand, and squeezes it hard. She responds, “That hurts...but I like it.”

A reporter once asked—in reference to stuff like this—the militantly unpretentious Mitchum what sort of pictures he made. He responded, “B pictures.”