Out of the Past

Dir: Jacques Tourneur, 1947, bw (9.3*)

Jacques Tourneur's film is the epitome of film noir, even though only half of it occurs at night. Robert Mitchum (never better) is a small town gas station owner in the Owens Valley of California, east of the Sierras, when a passing stranger lures him back into his past association with criminal Kirk Douglas, in only his second film. The story revolves around a femme fatale, naturally, Jane Greer in a brilliantly understated performance - she was just 22 but was studio owner Howard Hughes' girlfriend at the time. You know when its tense because the main characters fire up a cigarette each time! Essential for noir buffs, often considered the quintessential film of that genre.

Quote: The view's only nice if you have someone to share it with.