DARK PASSAGE 1947 (WARNERS)

This is the third of four films Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart worked together on.

Delmer Daves directed this excellent example of film noir on many San Francisco locations.

Bogart stars as Vincent Parry, a man who has escaped from prison after being convicted of killing his wife. Parry is so well known in the bay area that he seeks to have his features changed by some plastic surgery.

All the while he stays with a young woman named Irene Jansen (Lauren Bacall) because she offers him her help because she tells him she attended his trial and knew he was innocent. Irene cares for Vincent as he slowly lets his face heal.

After the bandages have come off Parry seeks to find the real killers of his wife. He runs across many obstacles and life threatening situations, but finally he happens upon the real killer.

This classic was filmed in a unique style that was first done in the film noir entitled "Lady In The Lake". It's done for the first third of the film in first person, meaning you never see Parry's face until after the bandages come off. Warner Brothers wasn't too high on the idea, but it pays off very well.

Bogart and Bacall were married at the time, and their chemistry is just what you'd expect...perfect. The rest of the cast includes Bruce Bennett, Agnes Moorehead (in a great hard as nails performance) and Douglas Kennedy in a small but great performance as a suspicious detective trailing Bogart's character.

The disc also contains the original trailer and a great look at the making of this film, plus a great Bugs Bunny cartoon. Any film noir fan should love this presentation. Recommended!!