Mon 19 May 2025
A Movie Review by Jonathan Lewis: THE DARK PAST (1948).
Posted by Steve under Crime Films , Reviews[4] Comments
THE DARK PAST. Columbia Pictures, 1948. William Holden, Nina Foch, Lee J. Cobb, Adele Jergens, Stephen Dunne, Lois Maxwell, Berry Kroeger, Steven Geray. Director: Rudolph Maté
You might think that, with the title The Dark Past, that this Columbia production was a film noir. And, in some ways, you’d be correct. But overall, this feature is way too optimistic about human nature to be considered a proper noir.
Let me explain.
Lee J. Cobb portrays Dr. Andrew Collins, a college professor/psychiatrist whose family home is invaded by notorious outlaw Al Walker (William Holden) and his crew. Over the course of a stormy evening, Collins takes the angst-ridden Walker on as a veritable patient.
Apparently the distraught and criminally-minded Walker has been having a recurrent nightmare that is slowly driving him to the brink of insanity. Collins, who seems to believe many criminals can be “cured,” breaks down the symbolism of the dream and helps Walker break from his murderous ways. That’s the gist of The Dark Past.
Supporting cast members include the lovely Nina Foch as Walker’s girlfriend and Adele Jurgens as one of Collins’s houseguests. Truth be told, however, the movie – which is based on a play – centers around the performances of both Cobb and Holden.
Both do well enough with the material, even the psychobabble. But the material simply isn’t that particularly compelling, at least from the vantage point of 2025. Still, I surprisingly somewhat enjoyed watching this movie, perhaps due to the short running time and the commitment that both leads gave to the work.

May 20th, 2025 at 2:55 am
Haven’t seen this one, but I’m a fan of the film it was remade from: BLIND ALLEY (1939) with Chester Morris and Ralph Bellamy, mostly for the way it played with the traditional screen personas of both actors.
May 20th, 2025 at 10:31 am
Thanks, Dan. I missed the connection between the two films altogether. Maybe I can be excused since I’ve never seen the first one. Only this time, though!
May 20th, 2025 at 10:32 am
But I did notice Lois Maxwell who was in this one. Yes, she’s one and the same.
May 24th, 2025 at 12:24 am
Despite the outstanding cast I think BLIND ALLEY handled it better, the story needs a bit of scene chewing and Morris and Bellamy were more comfortable with it, as it is more melodrama than noir, though this one features some excellent attempts to depict Holden’s mental state.