Approximately 5 years after the release of Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart starred in a thrilling film noir adapted from David Goodis’ novel and directed by Delmer (3:10 to Yuma) Daves. Co-starring Bogart's partner in love, Lauren Bacall, Dark Passage combines the best of romance with the best of noir in the best location for both: San Francisco. Previously recommended as a Blu-Ray release here:
Just bumping this so interested viewers will have a chance to see this film's more current presentation. See top post for details and a Blu-ray review.
Watched the film this evening, the second time I've seen it. But it's been so long since my first viewing that I didn't remember how it worked out. The film is paced oddly, with the Bogart-Bacall scenes really being low-key, as compared to the usually highly-charged dialogue we find in their other films. Things only spring to life once Bogart leaves Bacall's place to try to make his escape. Then, it seems like scenarist Daves (or is it novelist Goodis?) writes his protagonist into a corner a few times. The only way Bogart can avoid actually becoming the killer he is accused of being is if a few other people take the fall (from great heights). Still, it's a decently suspenseful film, if not true film noir.
