Blog Post #2

Diagetic vs. Non-diagetic Sounds in the Film Out of the Past

One example of non-diagetic sound in the film, Out of the Past, comes at 5:00 mins. Our main character, Bailey, is fishing with his fiancé Meta. In the background is melodic score music, clearly not heard in the world of the film but meant to convey a sense of peaceful serenity in the majestic outdoor scene. Another example of non-diagetic sound is score music playing at about 11:00 mins. It begins as Bailey is driving with Meta to Lake Tahoe and he begins his story of his true past. It is clearly not heard in the world of the film but is meant to put the audience on notice of Bailey’s mysterious story that is about to unfold.

An example of diagetic sound in the film is the band playing at 15:00 mins. as Bailey, now recounting his past experiences searching for Katherine Moffett, meets with a former employee of Katherine’s, Eunice Livit, at a crowded New York African American dance club. The scene opens on a trumpet player playing loudly with a band surrounding him. The band is in the world of the film and people are dancing to the music in the background. Another example of diagetic sound in the film is at 20:10 min. It takes place as Bailey enters a bar called Pablo’s in Acapulco hoping to meet Katherine there. Bailey stands at the bar as violin music begins playing. You clearly see the violinist and piano in the background. Katherine suggests this place because they play American music. The music is clearly a part of the world of the film.

Use of Familiar Image in the Film Out of the Past

A Familiar Image in the film, Out of the Past, is the use of a door, left open. This image is used in two separate scenes of the film. The first comes at 27:08 as Bailey and Katherine come running to her cottage in Acapulco in the rain. They sit on the couch drying each other’s hair and expressing their love when the wind blows the door open and Bailey gets up to close it slowly. At 39:08 this similar image is seen again after the fight with Fisher, Bailey’s old partner who tries to blackmail them, during which Katherine shoots and kills him. Bailey is shocked that Katherine shot him and as he turns around, she’s gone, the door standing open. Once again, Bailey slowly gets up and closes the door as Katherine is seen driving away. Both of these scenes feature a small cottage where Bailey and Katherine are going to be together. Director Jacques Tourneur likely crafted these scenes to be so similar to emphasize the way in which Bailey is misled by Katherine. He falls in love with her, despite her shady past. He trusts her despite many reasons not to, believing that her having shot Whit was justified and over with. The scene at the forest cottage shows Katherine’s treacherous nature. Bailey’s heart is broken as he learns she did steal the money from Whit and is truly a cold-blooded murderess. The door standing open is a symbol of how easily Katherine is able to claim her undying love to Bailey only to turn around, commit murder and run through that open door without a second thought.
The above film clip shows Katherine's cold-blooded murder of Fisher after Bailey fights him.

Film Noir and the Film Out of the Past

Out of the past is a classic example of Film Noir. The visual style utilized German-expressionistic chiaroscuro style lighting, giving harsh shadows with prominent key lighting that allows for an overall sense of foreboding. The contrast and dramatic shadows helps frame the thematic, morally ambiguous characters that make up the narrative. The main character acts as a hard boiled private detective and Katherine represents the quintessential Femme Fatale running from the quintessential jealous boyfriend. The story itself uses heavy voice over narration and flashbacks as standard devices to tell the story. The plot also uses such devises as betrayals and double crosses which are standard hard boiled film noir devices. Noir stories like to show people in unwanted situations that have an uncertain outcome of events that often ends in tragedy. Out of the Past is no different in this regard.