The Dark Past

The Dark Past is a 1948 psychological thriller film noir directed by Rudolph Mat, and starring William Holden, Nina Foch, and Lee J. Cobb. The film, released by Columbia Pictures, is a remake of Blind Alley 1939, also released by Columbia, and based on a play by American playwright James Warwick.

Walker relates a dramatic dream hes been having since childhood. Eventually, his crimes are traced back to his childhood and lack of parental guidance, and by the end of the night the doctor has calmed the killers murderous rage and prevented any further killings.When the film was released the film critic at The New York Times gave the film a positive review writing, William Holden is excellent as the dreamshackled gunman, who is at once ruthless, nervous and explosively dangerous but who grudgingly complies with the doctors screwball tactics. As counterpoint is Lee J. Cobbs equally fine portrait of the unflustered scientist who is dedicated to curing people not killing them. And, Nina Foch does a competently restrained job as the gangsters moll, who learns hes suffering from an Oedipus complex. The doctors house guests, including Steven Geray, Adele Jergens and Wilton Graff, and their captors, especially Berry Kroeger, give unobtrusive but neat characterizations. Neat, too, is the word for this small but wellmade Christmas package. ........

Source: Wikipedia