Bogie and Bacall Weekend: Dark Passage February 26, 2011

Shown in 35mm on our big 50ft wide screen. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Directed by Delmar Davis. 1947, 107 mins., Black and white A well constructed noir that is one of the most darkly seductive but seldom revived pairings of Bogart and Bacall. Bogart is a man wrongly accused of his wife's murder who undergoes plastic surgery to conceal his identity. Bacall, more vulnerable here than in other roles, is a lonely heiress who shelters Bogie - and falls for him - while he tries to find his wife's real killer. The film makes great use not only of its stars' real life chemistry but also of its San Francisco setting. The Bay Area's hills and winding roads, world-famous bridges and even prison proximity are integral to the story, while the city's mixture of affluence and squalor, misfits and money men give texture to the shadowy atmosphere. The supporting cast more than hold their own, and Director Delmar Davis makes great use of the tight, efficient script. The opening scenes filmed from Bogart's perspective are especially effective, adding a distinct, perhaps even Hitchcock-ian feel. Don't miss this rare chance to see this noir gem on the big screen.