Rudolph Mate made some superbly-directed films during his career (D.O.A, Union Station, When Worlds Collide, to name but a few). The Dark Past was Mate's first job as director, and he invests this debut psychological thriller with a suitable sense of urgency and a few fresh plot twists. The film also provides two of Hollywood's most durable actors - Lee J. Cobb and William Holden - with opportunities to prove their versatility. Cobb, usually cast as the heavy, here has a nice time playing a quieter, more thoughtful type. Holden, normally the romantic lead, here stretches himself as a mentally unstable criminal.
Escaped convict and killer Al Walker (William Holden) and his gal Betty (Nina Foch) break into the house of a psychiatrist named Dr Andrew Collins (Lee J. Cobb). Aided by his gang, the cold-blooded Walker decides to hold Dr. Collins and his family as hostages, while some of his contacts prepare his eventual getaway. Aggressive and snappy at first, Walker is soon worn down by the patient Dr. Collins, who discretely presses him for information about his past. The doctor believes that the violence inherent within Walker is not coincidental, and suspects that something in the young criminal's past may have made him turn into the rotten egg that he is now. Gradually, Dr. Collins discovers that Walker's deep rooted issues stretch all the way back to his childhood. Once brought face to face with his "dark past" the young psycho becomes tamer and is quickly overpowered by the cops.
For a film made in 1948, The Dark Past has a rather ground-breaking plot. The concept that crime in youth could perhaps be explained and treated by psychiatric means was quite radical at that time. Nowadays, we are much more informed on psychological issues, and we probably see this film as a somewhat primitive exercise. Still, The Dark Past has elements that have stood the test of time surprisingly well. The leading performances are impressive by any standards, especially Cobb as the methodical hero who uses his brains to overcome his adversary's brawn. The relatively short running time means that the film is briskly paced and tense, stripped of any additional detail that might slow things up. If you enjoy this film, it is worth noting that it gets its inspiration from a play entitled Blind Alley, which was filmed under its original title in 1939. Both are enjoyable and well-made thrillers, but I'd say that The Dark Past is marginally the better of the two.
Escaped convict and killer Al Walker (William Holden) and his gal Betty (Nina Foch) break into the house of a psychiatrist named Dr Andrew Collins (Lee J. Cobb). Aided by his gang, the cold-blooded Walker decides to hold Dr. Collins and his family as hostages, while some of his contacts prepare his eventual getaway. Aggressive and snappy at first, Walker is soon worn down by the patient Dr. Collins, who discretely presses him for information about his past. The doctor believes that the violence inherent within Walker is not coincidental, and suspects that something in the young criminal's past may have made him turn into the rotten egg that he is now. Gradually, Dr. Collins discovers that Walker's deep rooted issues stretch all the way back to his childhood. Once brought face to face with his "dark past" the young psycho becomes tamer and is quickly overpowered by the cops.
For a film made in 1948, The Dark Past has a rather ground-breaking plot. The concept that crime in youth could perhaps be explained and treated by psychiatric means was quite radical at that time. Nowadays, we are much more informed on psychological issues, and we probably see this film as a somewhat primitive exercise. Still, The Dark Past has elements that have stood the test of time surprisingly well. The leading performances are impressive by any standards, especially Cobb as the methodical hero who uses his brains to overcome his adversary's brawn. The relatively short running time means that the film is briskly paced and tense, stripped of any additional detail that might slow things up. If you enjoy this film, it is worth noting that it gets its inspiration from a play entitled Blind Alley, which was filmed under its original title in 1939. Both are enjoyable and well-made thrillers, but I'd say that The Dark Past is marginally the better of the two.