DARK PAST

US, 1948, 75 minutes, Black and white.
William Holden, Lee J. Cobb, Nina Foch, Adele Jergens.
Directed by Rudolph Mate.

The Dark Past is an interesting and entertaining dramatic thriller from the late '40s, a period which explored themes of psychology in the movies. The film was based on the play, a confrontation between an escaped criminal and a psychiatrist.

The film is a star vehicle for William Holden (at age 30). However, it also provides Lee J. Cobb with one of his best performances as the psychiatrist. Nina Foch is also very good as the girlfriend. The film was directed (his second feature film as director) by former cinematographer Rudolph Mate.

While the psychology and the interpretation of dreams might seem somewhat dated now, it is an interesting look at how people viewed psychology, the treatment of criminals, the interpretation of dreams in the early part of the 20th century.

1. An effective short thriller? The tradition of the film noir? The atmosphere of prison and escape? (And films like The Desperate Hours where criminals bail up a family in siege?)

2. Black and white photography, the police precinct, the university, the house? The action taking place overnight? Musical score?

3. The title and its reference to psychological influences on the individual, shedding light on the dark past?

4. The status of psychology before 1950? The early 20th century developments? The police having a police psychiatrist? Professors of psychology? Book writing and reviews? The hopes for psychology as helping people to rehabilitation? Popular wariness and non-understanding of psychology? The public taking tough attitudes towards criminals? The importance of therapy, dream interpretation?

5. Lee J. Cobb and his screen presence as the doctor? The opening with his describing his day, psychology, interpreting the faces in the bus, arriving at work, going to the criminal line-up, his interest in the young thug, his discussion with the officer? The flashback?

6. The doctor and his interests, his lecturing, relationship with his family, his colleague, the mending of the gun, the plan for fishing and hunting, at home, the guests and their tension? Al Walker and the intrusion? His keeping his cool, not getting upset, wanting to review the book, noting Walker's interest in the book and its theme, the discussion with the girlfriend, her recounting of the dream? The colleague with the gun and the shooting? The visit of the police and his cover-up, the phone call about the time? Giving opportunities for Walker to talk, the interpretation of the dream, making him tell the truth, uncovering the past, the confrontation? Walker unable to shoot the policeman? 1940s psychology?

7. William Holden as Al Walker, the breakout, in the car, accomplices, the callous killing of the warden? The decision to stay at the professor's home? The intrusion, his stances, violence? Saying things that he did not understand were screwy and screwball? The paralysis in his hands? His interest in the book and its themes, his worry? Playing chess and the discussions about chess? Wanting to sleep but unable? The recurring dream? His wariness with the psychiatrist but his wanting help, agreeing to the interpretation, having to tell the truth, his mother, his father, the incident? Betraying his father, hating him, wanting to kill him? His own flashback about the incident? The final confrontation, his not being able to shoot the police? How effective a transformation, cure?

8. The visualising of the dream sequence, in negative form, the rain, umbrella, the hole, Al trying to keep the rain out with his fingers? The contrast with his own flashback and the realism of the incident with the table, the blood? The Oedipal background of his jealousy of his father, killing him, relationship with his mother? The psychiatrist as a substitute father?

9. The professor's wife, her support, handling the situation, the young boy, his trying to escape and warn the police? The guests, the wife's affair, the clash and tension? The bitterness of the businessman? Trying to buy off the criminal? The girlfriend and her confrontation of the wife and moral standards?

10. The maid and the cook, tied up in the cellar, the cook and her assertiveness, escape?

11. The girlfriend, support of Al, love for him, concerned about his sleep, upset when he rejected her, her confronting the maid and the cook? The other criminals and their behaviour?

12. The associate professor, the gun, his arrival, shrewdness, being shot? Satisfaction when the criminal was hit over the head with the poker?

13. An effective thriller, opening out of a play? Police investigation, psychological study, the family as hostage? The optimism of the ending?