by Allan Fish
(USA 1947 97m) DVD1/2
Aka. Build my Gallows High
We owe it all to Jose Rodriguez
p Warren Duff d Jacques Tourneur w Daniel Mainwaring novel “Build My Gallows High” by Daniel Mainwaring ph Nicholas Musuraca ed Samuel E.Beetley m Roy Webb art Albert S.d’Agostino, Jack Okey spc Russell A.Cully cos Edward Stevenson
Robert Mitchum (Jeff Markham/Bailey), Jane Greer (Kathie Moffett), Kirk Douglas (Whit Sterling), Virginia Huston (Ann Miller), Richard Webb (Jim), Paul Valentine (Joe Stefanos), Ken Niles (Leonard Eels), Rhonda Fleming (Meta Carson), Steve Brodie (Jack Fisher), Dickie Moore (The Kid), Wallace Scott (Petey, the taxi driver), Mary Field (Marny the diner owner), Lee Elson (Lou Baylord), Frank Wilcox (Sheriff Al Douglas),
Back in 2001 I was watching cult TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Eliza Dushku’s Faith described her borderline psychotic psyche: “it’s like the whole world is moving and you’re stuck. Like those animals in the tar pits; it’s like you just keep sinking a little deeper every day and nobody even sees…” Totally unrelated though that may be, the quote made me think of this film and its antihero Jeff Markham, who likewise inexorably sinks deeper and deeper into his own proverbial pile of quicksand, and smiles as he does so. To put it mildly, this is a quite sensationally cynical film noir, the best ever in the genre and one of the greatest, and most stylish, films of all time. I won’t waste too much space with the plot, in which a private eye relates to his current flame how he got involved with a femme fatale he’d been hired to find by a big-time gambler, and concentrate on the impact.
It is easy to see this film as the coming together of the typical morally ambiguous characters of the likes of Double Indemnity and the visual style of Val Lewton’s horror films for RKO. Indeed, Tourneur and photographer Nick Musuraca had collaborated on Cat People and I Walked With a Zombie, and Musuraca had also worked with the dark in The Spiral Staircase for Robert Siodmak. The gorgeous lighting of the sunsets and lakes somehow makes it more real than say The Maltese Falcon – which was entirely studio shot – so that Jeff and Kathie have their romance in a real world of darkness and light. There are shots here that haunt you for life, such as Greer’s first entrance into the cantina and the Steve Brodie death scene. However, it’s in the characters that Past really comes into it own as the greatest film noir of them all. The otherwise underused Jane Greer is magnificent as the duplicitous Olympic Falsehood champion Kathie, dripping deception from every pore, but making the audience love her in the same way Markham does. She knows it, too, and sums up the situation admirably, in one of the movie’s only clichés, and a perfectly chosen one; “You’re no good for anyone but me. You’re no good and neither am I.” Mitchum is likewise beyond superb and into the realms of iconic as the doomed hero, laconically moving from one problem to another, without ever losing his cool or his wit, his half smoked cigarette or his raincoat. Nor must one forget Kirk Douglas as the cynical gambler who can’t get Greer out of his mind. The score and sets, though simple, perfectly reflect the director’s vision, the editing is unobtrusive, and the photography crisp, contrasting and brooding, bathing Greer’s Kathie in a lovely deceptive light. But the most kudos must go to Tourneur who, despite only a basic command of English, fills the film with so many visual subtexts and angles as to be beyond the description of any pen. Just think of Mitchum chucking his glass into the fire at the end, like a man who knows death is nigh and who has always wanted to do that.
David Thomson observed “it is terrific – and not good enough; it is like a brilliant palace made of matchsticks, by a prisoner on a life sentence…” (if so, it’s the best ever matchstick construction by a perpetual inmate), but a better description is Richard T.Jameson’s …”A title so instinct with legend, to pronounce it is to sigh…Tourneur did his best work ever…lending the whole enterprise the fluid movement and haunted, filigreed look of a film noir fairy tale. Out of the Past is perhaps the one film noir that demands to be described as exquisite…” There is nothing more to be said, we welcome its doom like Mitchum. “Build my gallows high, baby.” Indeed.
Hi! Allan Fish,
What a very well written review by you…that sums up director Jacques Tourneur classic 1947 film “Out of the Past” perfectly!…
…with all its wonderful elements of “noir”…The flashbacks, femme fatale, fatalistic “anti” hero PI., murder, greed, and mysterious people.
( My Book Recommendation(s) after reading your review of this film: Dark City and Film Noir, respectively, by authors Spencer Selby and Eddie Robson)
According to the author of the book “Dark City: The Film Noir” Spencer Selby,
The film “Out of the Past” is…”One of the most important films of the cycle, with many representative “noir” qualities and more than one hidden secret…” On the other hand, author Eddie Robson’s book, (Which feature(s) actor Robert Mitchum and actress Jane Greer, on the cover.)
…”Film Noir” goes on to discuss in “great depth” the casting, reception, production and most importantly, the “film noir” aspects of the film “Out of the Past.”
I think that these are two very interesting books to have on your “night stand.”
Tks,
dcd 😉
Thanks, dcd, I just wish I had the time to read the two books you recommend, I have so little of it these days.
A great film noir, in fact one of the greatest as Mr. Fish notes in his thorough and enthusiastic appraisal. Robert Mitchum and Jane Geer are remarkable, and this is a hard-edged cynical work that is etched in the mind.
Simply put, one of the greatest films ever made and very possibly my favorite motion picture.
A great review, Allan. I know you love this film and it comes across beautifully.
I must ask those who are interested to take a look at my review of Out of the Past. Joe, who enjoyed my review of The Big Heat and Peter, who enjoyed my review of The Big Combo, may especially like to take a look, but all WitD-ers are invited.
“Simply put, one of the greatest films ever made and very possibly my favorite motion picture.”
Alexander’s love for this film is peerless, but I’ll admit Allan comes within hailing distance.
I second the motion to Joe, Peter and all other WitD posters to read Alexander’s review of the film, which is probably the greatest review ever written on any film that I hav eever read on the net. It’s an incomparable masterpiece of film criticism, love and appreciation.
A great review of the quintessential film noir. It is exquisite in every detail.
It’s a pleasure to read your review of one of the best. I like the way Robert Mitchum manages to look perpetually sleepy without looking complacent or boring. I find myself envying his elan, his nonchalance. Has any actor conveyed it better? He seems mildly amused by his impending doom.
Hello Film Dr.!
Allan is presently in that “horizontal” position in the U.K., where it is about 2:30 A.M. there right now, but I join with you in issuing praise his most fine review of one of his supreme favorite films of the 40’s and surely his top noir.
And I would have to agree with you about “Robert Mitchum seeming mildly amused by his impending doom.” He is a fabulous actor of course.
Our good friend Alexander Coleman (and WitD writer tony d’Ambra have also written excellent reviews of the film–Alexander’s of course is one of the best ever)
Thank you very much Film Dr.!
Maybe the most “haunting” of the film noirs, and it is all framed perfectly. Outstanding review!
Thanks for all the kind words, guys, but no review can do justice to this film really.
This is one of three great films that all deal with the fatalism found in noir, the other two being Port of Shadows and Odd Man Out. Mitchum, Gabin and Mason are all tragic, sympathetic protagonists whose presence in each respective film achieve a certain existential perfection, it just doesn’t get any better, then and now. And yes, Allan, one cannot mention this film without uttering Tourneur’s name in conjunction, the ethereal poetry contained therein has everything to do with his graceful touch.
Couldn’t agree more, Guy.
That is quite the brilliant comment there Guy, dealing with fatalism in film noir.
Hi! Sam Juliano, Allan Fish and Wonders in the Dark readers…
Hot Off The Presses….Extra Extra….Read All About It….Alexander’s Daily Happenings…. at Eddie Muller’s and Anita Monga’s Noir City 7
…Wow! Alexander, met actress Arlene Dahl and according to… Alexander some “crazy” person, accidentally spilled a drink on the photograph that they(Alexander and actress Arlene Dahl) just took together….To read the whole story…check out the NoirishCityTimes
methink, that Alexander is having wayyyy too much fun!…
Sam Juliano, if it is alright with you, will it be okay to for me to post Alexander’s daily happenings under Allan’s post of director Jacques Tourneur’s “Out of the Past”
post?
Thanks,
The “editor” 😉
NoirishCityTimes
http://www.darkcitydame4e.com/
Hello to the illustrious, effervescent and very EXCITED Dark City Dame!!
This is TREMENDOUS news, especially for FILM NOIR lovers, and it’s yet another feather in the cap for our erudite young scholar, Mr. Alexander Coleman!!!
I share in your pride both for Alexander and for Noirish City, and of course you can post Alexander’s daily happenings here or anywhere else at WitD!!!
I will be over to Noirish City within minutes to join in the fun!!!
-Sam
Hey! Sam, Just stay here!…on your on blog! and click on the link (above) and it will take you directly to the News Papers article!
The editor., 😉
Thanks,
Yep, DCD, I just read it from that link you sent and it’s fabulous. I am now going to run the entire report at WitD front page!
Thank You!