Dark Passage

The premise for this movie is indeed improbable, and the idea that someone would want to change into the Bogart time-worn face is laughable. However, the interplay between the Bogarts is electric, and she never looked any sexier. The San Francisco art deco buildings and scenery is an added bonus. Agnes Moorhead, certainly one of our most underrated radio and film actresses, was never better as the catty friend. As a variation of film noir, though, this is fun to watch and gets better with each viewing.

Based on a David Goodis novel, director Delmer Daves also took over responsibility for the screenplay and weaved an engrossing if not always plausible story centred around Vincent Parry (Bogart) who we see in the first scene making his escape on the back of a truck from San Quentin Prison. Picked up a few minutes later by artist Irene Jansen (Bacall), who happened to be doing some painting in the surrounding hills as the prison siren went off, Vincent finds himself suddenly with a staunch ally in his quest to get to the bottom of his wife's murder. Irene takes Vincent back to her apartment in San Francisco where her attraction to him becomes immediately evident.She explains that her sudden determination to help him despite the personal risks to herself, is the result of her interest in his case and the firm belief that he was framed for his wife's murder. Seeing that a city wide manhunt is now underway Vincent takes the advice of a friendly cab driver (Tom D'Andrea), who guesses who he is and allows him to arrange to get some plastic surgery done to change his appearance. Hiding out at Irene's apartment while his face heals Vincent realises that he and Irene have a connection in the person of gossipy sharp tongued Madge Rapf (Agnes Moorehead),who is a constant thorn in Irene's side and actually testified against Vincent in his murder trial. Madge gets suspicious of the man she believes Irene is hiding in her apartment and begins to follow Vincent once his bandages are removed and he begins to track down the real killer of his wife. Putting two and two together Vincent realises that Madge is the guilty party and is a woman who when she can't get what she wants is the type to destroy what others love. In a powerful confrontation scene where Madge learns the identity of the man with the strangely familiar face it is revealed that she is the one who was also responsible for the death of his wife and only friend George. Unable to get Madge to confess to her crimes and thus clearing his name Vincent realises he has no chance of going free in particular when Madge falls to her death from her apartment window. He then decides to flee to South America where with not much persuasion he is joined by the romantically hooked Irene to hopefully start a new life together.

Totally implausible? Perhaps but as with alot of the well crafted film Noir's of the 40's it is done in an irresistable style. The sheer coincidence of most the characters being somehow connected with each other or automatically knowing someone who can help in Vincent's plight is indeed at times hard to accept but once again it is the performers and their total immersion in the characters that succeeds in pulling it off. "Dark Passage", is unique, and on the down side has been at times strongly criticised for, its shooting from the view of Humphrey Bogart's face so that we dont actually see him for the first half hour of the film. I personally believe that approach is highly effective and quite unique and it certainly keeps the interest up until Vincent's grand unveiling when he looks like of course Humphrey Bogart. The fact that Vincent does look different is also responsible for the very powerful last scene between Vincent and Madge when she slowly begins to realise, much to her terror, who this strange man is she has invited into her home. Bogart, Bacall and Moorehead rightly run away with the acting honours here but the supporting cast is a strong one with Houseley Stevenson as the plastic surgeon and Clifton Young as the black mailing Baker real standouts in their playing. The film like all noir efforts benefits greatly from the stark black and white photography by Sid Hickox with many of the exterior shots done in very early morning or late in the evening. Location work done in the downtown region of San Francisco also gives the film added interest with alot of action taking place around the Golden Gate Bridge which is well used in particular during the shoot out between Vincent and Baker.

"Dark Passage", may not be top draw Bogart akin to "Casablanca", or "The Maltese falcon", however it is a spirited tale in its own right and should be viewed as such. Its strong 1940's feel and stark photography aid in raising this story a number of notches above other similiar efforts of this period and even when he is not seen on camera for the first section of the story Bogart by using his distinctive voice manages to draw the audience into Vincent Parry's story. He and Lauren Bacall were one of Hollywood's greatest acting teams and even in a lesser effort such as this still provide first class entertainment. Enjoy.