OUT OF THE PAST (’47) at 70: A Searing, Seminal Study of the Femme Fatale

“Build my gallows high, Baby”.

The femme fatale, and all the men she leaves ruined in her wake, has become a staple of the cultural consciousness largely through film noir. She is the definition of lethal sex appeal: sexy, predatory, ruthlessly amoral; we cannot take our eyes off her, to our infinite trouble.

In studying the machinations of the femme fatale, one invariably touches upon certain pivotal films, high watermarks in the history of the character archetype. Out of the Past (1947), (Build my Gallows High in the UK release), is one such powerful study in her evolution. The film showed on June 4 on Turner Classic Movie’s “Noir Alley” with Film Noir Foundation President Eddie Muller. Noir Alley’s schedule can be found here and Eddie’s talks on the films can be watched here. I highly recommend both links, and also The Film Noir Foundation which does great work preserving these classics.