The Dark Past *** (1948, William Holden, Nina Foch, Lee J Cobb, Adele Jergens, Stephen Dunne, Lois Maxwell, Berry Kroeger) – Classic Movie Review 11,812

Director Rudolph Maté’s American 1948 extended flashback black and white psychological thriller The Dark Past is a suspenseful remake of the 1939 film Blind Alley, based on the 1935 play Blind Alley by James Warwick, with Lee J Cobb on powerhouse form as Dr Andrew Collins, the police psychiatrist attempting to outwit the dangerous escaped convicts who invaded his lakeside house.

Despite the predictable plot, this 40s film-noir thriller is engrossing and well performed, with a tense atmosphere and finely honed direction. William Holden convinces, cast against type as a nasty, crazy killer, Al Walker, the psychiatrist is trying to analyze. Nina Foch co-stars as Walker’s girlfriend Betty.

Nina Foch and Lois Maxwell in The Dark Past.

Collins, then working as a college professor, his wife Ruth (Lois Maxwell) and son head to their holiday cabin, where Walker, Betty and two gunmen break in and hold the household hostage, including three guests, while the escapees await being picked up by boat.

Also in the cast are Adele Jergens as Laura Stevens, Stephen Dunne as Owen Talbot, Lois Maxwell as Ruth Collins, Berry Kroeger as Mike, Steven Geray as Professor Fred Linder, Wilton Graff as Frank Stevens, Robert Osterloh as Pete, Kathryn Card as Nora, Bobby Hyatt, Ellen Corby, Charles Cane, Robert Williams, Phil Tully, Harry Harvey Jr, Edward Earle, Pat McGeehan, and Selmer Jackson.

The writers of the original Blind Alley screenplay – Philip MacDonald, Michael Blankfort and Albert Duffy – are credited, along with adaptation by Malvin Wald and Oscar Saul.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,812

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