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Rating:  - Bad Bogart film
The premise of the film is very interesting. But this is the worst of the Bogart movies I've seen. This movie is badly written. Bogarts wise cracks are badly timed within the dialog- it seem the line should be funny within the context of the dialog, but the lines instead seem isolated from the tone and emotion, adding nothing to the scenes.
There are many problems with the editing. There are several places where they seemed to have ran out of film or had no pickup shots.
Hollywood should remake this film... they can only improve on it.
There are plenty of good Bogart films out there, this is not one of them.
Rating:  - BREAKING OUT ISN'T HARD TO DO
Unique film set in San Francisco has too many plot loopholes to be rated a great film.First we have Bennett abeting Bogart's prison breakout, and rightfully losing all, including the shirt off his back. Enter Bacall, all too willing to hide, feed and clothe a prison escapee, nearly 30 years her senior. Then,by chance,D'Andrea appears, a cab driver with connections to a plastic surgeon, who "operates" only before dawn. Crime doesn't pay? One almost expects President Truman to appear next,hand delivering a complete pardon just before taking the evil Moorehead into custody. Incredibly, the film really does work however,thanks to "Bogie" and Bacall, who else? The terrific closing scene in a South American restaurant has been emulated in countless films, but few better than in this one, despite all of its shortcomings.
Rating:  - Dark Passage
Dark Passage released in 1947 is a Film Noir thriller/mystery at its very best. The cast is wonderful, each and every one of them.
The outside filming was done in San Francisco, which is a great realistic touch as you view the era's cars, the buildings & the people on the street, all of which are an important background during sections of this post-war crime drama.
The main cast includes:
Humphrey Bogart ... Vincent Parry
Lauren Bacall ... Irene Jansen
Bruce Bennett ... Bob
Agnes Moorehead ... Madge Rapf
Tom D'Andrea ... Cabby (Sam)
Clifton Young ... Baker
Douglas Kennedy ... Detective
Rory Mallinson ... George Fellsinger
Houseley Stevenson ... Dr. Walter Coley
Leonard Bremen ... Ticket clerk (uncredited)
Clancy Cooper ... Man on street (uncredited
Tom Fadden ... Cafe waiter (uncredited)
Jo Stafford ... Singer (uncredited) (voice)
Original Music by
Franz Waxman
Max Steiner (uncredited)
Directed by
Delmer Daves
Writing credits
David Goodis (novel "Dark Passage")
Delmer Daves (screenplay)
Rating: - Bogey & Bacall at their best !
Warner's Dark Passage (1947)together with The Big Sleep (1946) imho is the best teaming of the on/off legendary screen couple Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall, the chemistry they project in the scenes they're together is awesome.Delmer Daves direction is efficient -with excelent shots of the San Francisco locations- and the script is very original.Agnes Moorehead and Tom D'Andrea shine in their supporting roles.A highly recommended film.
Rating: - The weakest of the Bogart/Bacall films
"Dark Passage", the third of 4 films made with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, is the weakest. It is certainly not due to lack of magnetism of the leads but the plot is unconvincing as one incredible event occurs after another. The film also lacks the slangy, provocative dialogue which was such a successful component of their earlier teamings.
Bogie plays an ex con who escapes San Quentin and changes his appearance to escape the law. At the same time, he discovers the murderer of his wife, a crime for which he was serving time. Bacall plays the girl who helps him and she is warm and sympathetic, a much better actress than their earlier teamings but much less interesting. The film benefits from some excellent location shots around San Francisco and high Warner's production values including the lovely song "You're Just too Marvellous" as a theme for Bacall. Agnes Moorehead steals the film in a standout performance as a really nasty woman who interferes in everyone's lives. There is a psychological mood, typical of the post war film noir genre.
The DVD print is good though not perfect but the film's crisp photography survives. The DVD has a few extras. The short documentary about the making of the film is OK, noting it was not the box office success of its predecessors. The theatrical trailer heavily promotes the star team in their follow up to "The Big Sleep". Any Bugs Bunny cartoon is welcome and this one, featuring Bogie and Bacall, has Bugs imitating Katharine Hepburn and others.
The DVD is best value if purchased in one of the many Bogart collections.
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