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The Dark Past (1948)

APPROVED 75 min  -  Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller  -   25 April 1949 (Sweden)
6.4
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Ratings: 6.4/10 from 450 users  
Reviews: 25 user | 6 critic

An escaped psychopathic killer who takes the family and neighbors of police psychologist hostage reveals a recurring nightmare to the doctor.

Director:

Rudolph Maté

Writers:

Malvin Wald (adaptation), Oscar Saul (adaptation), and 4 more credits »

Stars:

William Holden, Nina Foch and Lee J. Cobb
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2 photos | 1 video | 2 news articles | full cast and crew »

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Cast

Cast overview:
William Holden ...
Al Walker
Nina Foch ...
Betty
Lee J. Cobb ...
Dr. Andrew Collins
Adele Jergens Adele Jergens ...
Laura Stevens
Stephen Dunne Stephen Dunne ...
Owen Talbot
Lois Maxwell ...
Ruth Collins
Berry Kroeger Berry Kroeger ...
Mike
Steven Geray Steven Geray ...
Prof. Fred Linder
Wilton Graff Wilton Graff ...
Frank Stevens
Robert Osterloh Robert Osterloh ...
Pete
Kathryn Card Kathryn Card ...
Nora
Full cast and crew »
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Storyline

When a detective scoffs at his suggestion that an 18 year-old criminal be referred for psychiatric examination Dr. Andrew Collins, the police psychiatrist, tells him the story of his encounter with Al Walker. Walker had a history of violence and killed the prison warden during an escape. He and his gang took the Collins family and their friends hostage but when Dr. Collins learns that Walker has a violent recurring dream, he offers to help him decipher the dream and determine exactly what has driven him to a life of crime and violence. Written by garykmcd  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Hostage | Dream | Police Psychologist | Killer | Nightmare  | See more »

Taglines:

SENSATIONAL SUSPENSE DRAMA! (original print media ad - all caps)

Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(Sweden) See more »

Also Known As:

Cerco de odio See more »

Filming Locations:

Gower Gulch, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Quotes

Dr. Andrew Collins: Perhaps the memory that causes your dream has something to do with your family, your mother maybe.
Al Walker: We've been all through that, haven't we? We finished with her!
Dr. Andrew Collins: No, you're not! You'll never be!
Al Walker: But she's dead. She meant nothing to me when she was alive!
Dr. Andrew Collins: She's the only woman you ever really loved. Allthe other women in your life are substitutes for her!
See more »

Connections

Remake of Blind Alley (1939) See more »

Soundtracks

"Air"
from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major
by Johann Sebastian Bach See more »