Out of the Past Blu-ray - Robert Mitchum

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Build My Gallons High" or "Goldenes Gift" )

USA 1947

Out of the Past is so perfect a film noir that it is considered practically a textbook example of the genre. In his first starring role (it had previously been offered to John Garfield and Dick Powell), Robert Mitchum plays Jeff Bailey, the friendly but secretive proprietor of a mountain-village gas station. As Jeff's worshipful deaf-mute attendant (Dick Moore) looks on in curious fascination, an unsavory character named Joe (Paul Valentine) pulls up to the station, obviously looking for the owner. Jeff is all too aware of Joe's identity; he's been dreading this moment for quite some time, knowing full well that it will mean the end of his semi-idyllic existence, not to mention his engagement to local girl Ann (Virginia Huston). In a lengthy flashback, the audience is apprised of the reasons behind Jeff's discomfort - and thus begins a tale of treachery, betrayal and intrigue that extends into the present day and turns Jeff's life upside down. Out of the Past was remade in 1984 as Against All Odds, with Jane Greer cast as the mother of her original character.

***

The definitive flashback movie, in which our fated hero Mitchum makes a rendezvous with death and his own past in the shape of Jane Greer. Beguiling and resolutely ominous, this hallucinatory voyage has two more distinctions: as the only movie with both a deaf-mute garage hand and death by fishing-rod, and as one of the most bewildering and beautiful films ever made. From a traditionally doomed and perversely corrupt world, the mood of obsession was never more powerfully suggestive: Mitchum waiting for Greer in a Mexican bar beneath a flashing neon sign sums it up - nothing happens, but everything is said. Superbly crafted pulp is revealed at every level: in the intricate script by Daniel Mainwaring (Phenix City Story, Invasion of the Body Snatchers), the almost abstract lighting patterns of Nick Musuraca (previously perfected in Cat People and The Spiral Staircase), and the downbeat, tragic otherworldliness of Jacques Tourneur (only equalled in his I Walked with a Zombie). All these B movie poets were under contract to RKO in the winter of 1946, and produced the best movie of everyone involved - once seen, never forgotten. (The source novel was by Mainwaring writing as Geoffrey Homes.)

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 13th, 1947

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC vs. Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) Warner (Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 1) - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers		Also coming to Blu-ray from Warner Archive via a package that includes Murder, My Sweet, *Out of the Past, The Set-up* and *Gun Crazy* in September 2020:
Distribution	Warner (Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 1) Region 1, 4 - NTSC	Warner Archive Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:36:36	1:36:45.841
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.50 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,515,173,909 bytes Feature: 29,649,223,680 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.57 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English Dolby Digital 2.0	DTS-HD Master Audio English 2064 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2064 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1865 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1865 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French, None	English, and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner (Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 1) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by Jim Ursini DVD Release Date: July 6th, 2004 5 Keep cases inside Box Chapters 27	Release Information: Studio: Warner Archive 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,515,173,909 bytes Feature: 29,649,223,680 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.57 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Commentary by Jim Ursini Blu-ray Release Date: August 12th, 2014 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters: 16

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: (September 2014) Warner Archive Region FREE - Blu-ray: We reviewed the, excellent, Warner Film Noir Classics Collection on DVD back in 2004. Once again, where the SD looks more like 'video' - the 1080P looks like 'film'. I did notice a bit of contrast flickering on the SD not present on the smoother (in-motion) HD. Also the DVD shows more speckles and damage (see last capture comparison). The 1080P Blu-ray is richer, more textured and shows a shade more information in the frame. This, along with the layered contrast results in a marvelous image for an impressively attractive film (kudos to DoP Nicholas Musuraca). The DVD was quite strong but the Blu-ray handily advances - more noticeable dependant on the system you have. It is cleaner and appears to have gone through some form of restoration since the SD transfer.

Audio is via a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel at 2064 kbps. The audio is very important in the production with Roy Webb (Marty, Journey Into Fear, I Married a Witch, Crossfire) composing an atmospheric score. The lossless sounds exceptionally tight and clean. There are optional English subtitles and the Warner Blu-ray disc is Region FREE.

Warner repeat the Ursini commentary - an excellent one but true Noir devotees were hoping for further discussion on this iconic 'dark cinema' masterpiece.

An absolute must-own. The Blu-ray is almost like watching the film for the first time. It encourages repeat viewings - almost obsessively. Jane Greer has to be seem in 1080P. A very strong recommendation!

- Gary Tooze

Menus

1) Warner (Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 1) - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT