MovieChat Forums > The Dark Past (1949) Discussion > I thought this was a very good idea, but...

I thought this was a very good idea, but poorly executed

posted 9 years ago by jgroub
1 reply | jump to latest

First off, you've got that damned Hayes Code, so you know they're never, ever going to get away with anything. That's pretty annoying.

But putting that aside, you've got a good idea for a movie - a cool as a cucumber psychiatrist, held hostage along with his entire family, puts his violent captor under analysis, solely in an attempt to help him. That's a pretty good start right there.

Of course, this movie is as dull as dishwater, and about as intelligent as a box of rocks. But it could be remade into something more, dontcha think?

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

I disagree. I suspect any modern day remake of this movie would overdo it to the point the story would be lost. I don't see how Walker could have possibly gotten away with 'it'. He had already killed a lot of people. He escaped from prison and, now, he was committing yet another crime by holding these people hostage. He also attempted to kill the neighbor. He didn't die but he was wounded.

I think the message of the movie is clear. A lot of criminals can be helped if they are given that help early on. Putting them away doesn't really do the trick. Being incarcerated is punishment but it should also be rehabilitation; otherwise, criminals go in and get an education from all the other criminals with whom they are held.

Dr. Collins was able to help Walker deal with his nightmares but Walker still needed to pay his debt to society. He had taken a lot of lives and there's nothing Dr. Collins could do to change that. That's why criminals need to be be helped sooner rather than later; before they've completely ruined their lives and run out of options like Walker.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]