The Dark Past (1948)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Blistering performances.

The acting in this movie is really good.

During a criminal lineup, police psychiatrist Lee J. Cobb (as Andrew Collins) shows concern for snarling young Harry Harvey Jr. (as John Larrapoe). Young law-breakers go to jail and are schooled in the criminal lifestyle, instead of being rehabilitated and given a second chance. This causes Mr. Cobb to recall a memorable incident with hardened criminal William Holden (as Al Walker). A couple years ago, Cobb was a wealthy college professor. While at his country estate near the Canadian border, Cobb's dinner party was invaded and held hostage by Mr. Holden and his gang. Cobb notices Holden's troubled psyche, rooted in an unusual recurring dream, and tries to root out his criminal mind..."The Dark Past" offers a familiar plot, perhaps most successful in cinematic form as "The Desperate Hours" (1955) with Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March. Like that film, this particular story started life as a tense Broadway play. James Warwick's 1935 play is arguably better as "Blind Alley" (1939)...The story's intrigue is the psychological interplay between the leading men. Herein, Cobb gets the better of Holden in more ways than one. Cobb appears authentic alongside Holden, who grimaces and gazes. You miss the more subtle, alcohol-drenched cynic Holden would play so well. The exaggeration continues with obvious lighting, billowing curtains, dramatic angles and arty dream sequences. A dose of Freudian complexes mixes in to give director Rudolph Mate and his crew an overly gimmicky looking film. The cast is overcrowded with three servants, dinner party guests and a kid. As gangster Holden's love interest, pretty Nina Foch almost effective. The story's lesson is commendable.***** The Dark Past (1948/12/22) Rudolph Mate ~ William Holden, Lee J. Cobb, Nina Foch, Steven Geray

In a tired old thriller. **minor spoilers ahead** Lois Maxwell (Bond's Moneypenny)is lovely in this but very hard to take as the wife of Lee J Cobb, a psychiatrist. She looks like his daughter in it.The plot has everyone trapped at the cottage with some deranged killers (played by William Holden and Nina Fochs) holding everyone hostage for no discernible reason.An amusing bit is the servant, played by an hysterical Ellen Corby who takes off in an escape attempt and is never heard from again.The quickie psychoanalysis is unintentionally funny also. The five minute therapy trick.Tremendous curiosity value for us tried and true Forties Film Fanatics.And did I say funny? A hoot.6 out of 10.

This film caught me by surprise to find out that William Holden starred in this film along with Lee J. Cobb in 1948, and found it quite interesting from the very beginning to the very end. Holden plays the role as a criminal named Al Walker who really enjoys killing people and is loved and adored by Betty played by Nina Foch who was very young and attractive. Lee J. Cobb, ( Dr. Andrew Collins) works for the police department as a psychiatrist and tries to help men from continually living in their world of crime. Al Walker has taken over Andrew Collins Summer home and all his guests and there is plenty of tension going on with guns firing all the time. There is a great scene between Al Walker and Dr. Andrew Collins where the doctor is trying to understand nightmares that keep Al Walker from going to sleep and at the same time try to teach him how to play the game of Chess. This is a very unusual film that seems to have been forgotten and put on the shelf.

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.