I haven't had a chance to get the "Out of the Past" DVD but
there's something in it I've always wanted to check out.
Years ago, I spent the better part of an afternoon with
Robert Mitchum, mainly talking about his movies -- from the
Hopalong Cassidys to his then current "The Friends of Eddie
Coyle." When he got around to "Past," he was just as
dismissive of it as he was of all his films, "Coyle"
included. I found myself in the position of defending his own
movie, talking about Tourneur's direction and the great
camerawork and lighting. "Well, this whole thing about
so-called noir lighting," he said, "that was because the
budgets were so low we were down to candlepower. And as far
as Jacques' direction, I guess you didn't see the prop guy's
arm stick that phone on Betty Jane Greer's table." Tourneur
didn't notice it? I asked. "Oh, hell yeah he noticed it.
Betty Jane called it to his attention. Jacques just said (in
French accent): 'Doan worry. They weel all be looking at
you.'"
Assuming Mitchum wasn't making the whole thing up (which was
not inconceivable), Tourneur must've been right, because as
often as I've seen the movie, I've never seen the arm. A
frame-by-frame check of Greer's telephone scenes should
provide the answer.
Dick Lochte
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