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The Dark Past

  • 1948
  • Passed
  • 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2K
YOUR RATING
William Holden, Nina Foch, and Lee J. Cobb in The Dark Past (1948)
CrimeFilm-NoirThriller

An escaped psychopathic killer who takes the family and neighbors of police psychologist hostage reveals a recurring nightmare to the doctor.An escaped psychopathic killer who takes the family and neighbors of police psychologist hostage reveals a recurring nightmare to the doctor.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
    • Oscar Saul
    • Philip MacDonald
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Nina Foch
    • Lee J. Cobb
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rudolph Maté
    • Writers
      • Malvin Wald
      • Oscar Saul
      • Philip MacDonald
    • Stars
      • William Holden
      • Nina Foch
      • Lee J. Cobb
    • 45User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos72

    William Holden and Lee J. Cobb in The Dark Past (1948)
    Lee J. Cobb in The Dark Past (1948)
    William Holden in The Dark Past (1948)
    William Holden and Lee J. Cobb in The Dark Past (1948)
    William Holden in The Dark Past (1948)
    William Holden and Lee J. Cobb in The Dark Past (1948)
    Nina Foch and Lois Maxwell in The Dark Past (1948)
    Nina Foch, Lois Maxwell, and Robert Osterloh in The Dark Past (1948)
    Nina Foch and Berry Kroeger in The Dark Past (1948)
    Berry Kroeger in The Dark Past (1948)
    Nina Foch in The Dark Past (1948)
    Nina Foch, Stephen Dunne, Wilton Graff, Adele Jergens, and Berry Kroeger in The Dark Past (1948)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Holden
    William Holden
    • Al Walker
    Nina Foch
    Nina Foch
    • Betty
    Lee J. Cobb
    Lee J. Cobb
    • Dr. Andrew Collins
    Adele Jergens
    Adele Jergens
    • Laura Stevens
    Stephen Dunne
    Stephen Dunne
    • Owen Talbot
    Lois Maxwell
    Lois Maxwell
    • Ruth Collins
    Berry Kroeger
    Berry Kroeger
    • Mike
    Steven Geray
    Steven Geray
    • Professor Fred Linder
    Wilton Graff
    Wilton Graff
    • Frank Stevens
    Robert Osterloh
    Robert Osterloh
    • Pete
    Kathryn Card
    Kathryn Card
    • Nora
    Charles Cane
    • Sheriff
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Cartledge
    • Arrested Man Leaving Wagon
    • (uncredited)
    Tom Coleman
    • Detective
    • (uncredited)
    G. Pat Collins
    G. Pat Collins
    • Al's Father
    • (uncredited)
    Ellen Corby
    Ellen Corby
    • Agnes
    • (uncredited)
    Lester Dorr
    Lester Dorr
    • First Man in Police Line-Up
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Earle
    Edward Earle
    • McCoy
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Rudolph Maté
    • Writers
      • Malvin Wald
      • Oscar Saul
      • Philip MacDonald
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The re-creation of Al's dream uses a few seconds of footage from Blind Alley (1939), the earlier film version of this story; specifically the shot approaching the saloon, panning to see the policemen following the narrator, and panning back to the saloon side entrance.
    • Goofs
      Al takes a book off of Andrew's book shelf and opens it around page 50 or 60, but in the next closeup, the page Al is looking at the start of Chapter 22. It's highly unlikely that a scholarly book about psychology would average under three pages per chapter.
    • Quotes

      Betty: [Referring to Stevens] How's the tough guy? Is he behaving?

      Mike: He's talking business. He wants to make a deal. He thinks his life is worth money.

      Betty: [Contemptuously] How much did he offer... two bucks?

    • Connections
      Referenced in Discovering Film: William Holden (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Air
      from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major

      by Johann Sebastian Bach

    User reviews45

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Dated, but worthwhile....
    As others have mentioned the new psychology era and traumatic war experiences had been analyzed to death even by 1948. However the performances make this well worth watching this seldom televised film.

    William Holden is very believable as a tormented gangster. He hijacks a dinner party in the doctor's (Lee J. Cobb) hunting lodge. Basically the theme is routine, we have seen "Suddenly" and other similar films with people held hostage. Lee J. Cobb is again excellent as a psychiatrist probing the past of the criminal (Holden) why, what causes this behavior?.

    My generation is just re-discovering actors such as Holden. It is unfortunate some cable companies STILL do not broadcast these films (Turner Classics is a must, for me anyway).

    Nina Foch is also very good as Holden's girlfriend, attempting to help. Her fine performance contrasts with the two women servants tied in the basement,one screaming shrilly and seeming ridiculous.

    I liked this better than "Spellbound"; this is a bit more pedestrian but true to life. It is easier to believe Lee J. Cobb as a psychiatrist (he was also the redeeming performance in the film "The Three Faces of Eve" also starring Joanne Woodward). Recommended for anyone who likes suspense and psychological drama. 8/10.
    helpful•19
    1
    • MarieGabrielle
    • Jun 2, 2007

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 25, 1949 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Blind Alley
    • Filming locations
      • Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 13 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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