Absorbing and worthy suspense film about killings , entangled relationships and dark secrets , dealing with an inmate who escapes from San Quentin (San Francisco) to prove he was framed for the murder of his spouse . A man convicted (Humphrey Bogart as an escaped convict and for the first 40 minutes you don't see the star , only hear his voice) wrongly jailed of murdering his wife breaks out of prison and works with a woman to try and prove his innocence . He undergoes plastic surgery and it is only after when the camera turns on his new face ; he is subsequently aided and hidden by a beautiful girl (Lauren Bacall in an ordinary glamorous character as a valiant woman who hides him from the authorities , her scenes with Bogart are delightful), as he tries to find the real murderous . And , if you don't know the story , you'll be hard put to unravel its solution .
This first-rate but slow-paced picture draws its riveting tale and power from the interaction of finely drawn roles as well as drama and emotion . Twisted film Noir about murders , troubled relationships , treason , dark secrets ; being based on the novel by David Goodis also titled "Dark Passage¨ and screen-written by the same director ; though stars can quite compensate for some far-fetched moments . It has a good realization , an original script , haunting atmosphere , intriguing events ; for that reason madness and murder prevail . Exciting as well as rare film , possessing a mysterious and fascinating blend of gripping thriller , serenity , baroque suspense in which especially stands out the portentous performances , evocative cinematography in black and white by Sid Hickox and magnificent musical score by Franz Waxman . This is pure cinema from the first to the last shot, where there's nothing left and each image has its sense and meaning . Perhaps the most unusual adaptation on Noir Film , this results to be a tough and tortuous thriller . Additionaly , the subjective camera record Humphrey's impressions while he listens to people talk . A neat cinematic trick that was utilized to equally nice effect a year later in ¨Lady in the lake¨ with Robert Montgomery . Here Bogart is extraordinary and as cool as ever , his scenes with Lauren Bacall are awesome though underplayed compared to those they shared in The Big sleep and To have and to have not . Supporting cast is frankly well , such as Agnes Morehead who overacts shrilly , Bruce Bennett and Clifton Young .
The motion picture produced in enough budget by Jack L. Warner and Jerry Wald was well directed by Delmer Daves . Daves employs the highly original and brilliantly successful device of telling the tale entirely in the first person through the eyes of the principal role who is rarely seen except in bandages . Nice work by Delmer Daves in demonstrating his skill at all areas : as technical , using all kind of resources for illustrating the interesting as well as dramatic story with an engaging screenplay , adding great actors , attractive filmmaking and enjoyable narration . Daves was a Western expert , including his characteristic use of landscape , for the reason he lived a long time of his boyhood with the Navajo and Hopi Indian tribes as he realized the notorious trail-blazing ¨Broken arrow¨ the first movie for many years not treat the Indians as cannon-fodder for the cavalry , which made the picture unpopular in some quarters . He went on directing the suspenseful ¨3:10 to Yuma¨, other pro-Indian as ¨The last wagon¨ and about Modoc Indians as ¨Drum beat¨ , the Shakespearian style of ¨Jubal¨ , ¨Return of the Texan¨ and ¨Cowboy¨ which a fairly spectacle about a long cattle drive . From 1959 Delmer Daves becomes embroiled for the remainder of his career with teenage love epics and very popular films but so-so direction at the Box-office successes as ¨A summer place¨, ¨Parrish¨, ¨Susan Slade¨, and ¨Rome adventure¨, among others . And of course , he realized Noir films such as ¨The red House¨ and this ¨Dark passage¨ that is absolutely recommended . Rating : Above average , it is a nice tale with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing .