Dark Passage 1947 – A must-see for Film Noir fans

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All about Dark Passage 1947, the cast, storyline, and was it a film noir?

Dark Passage Overview

Dark Passage is a classic film noir starring Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall, along with Agnes Moorehead and Bruce Bennett. 

It is based on the novel Dark Passage by David Goodis.

This unique film is a fan-favorite, holding a high rating of 7.5 out of 10 on imdb.

It is a must-watch for film noir fans, as well as 1940s fashion fans.

Stunning vintage shots of San Francisco are also seen throughout the film.

Other Bogart and Bacall films include The Big Sleep, To Have and Have Not, and Key Largo.

(Side note, if you don’t know about the Bogey and Bacall real-life romance, it’s definitely worth the read.) 

This post is all about the Dark Passage 1947 film

Dark Passage cast

Vincent Parry (Humphrey Bogart)

Bogart play his typical tough-guy character, and has terrific on-screen chemistry with Lauren Bacall.

Irene Jansen (Lauren Bacall)

Lauren Bacall plays the feisty femme fatale Irene Jansen. 

She believes in Bogart’s innocence no matter what the newspapers say about him. 

She also wears some stellar 1940s fashion throughout the film.

Madge (Agnes Moorehead)

No film noir is complete without a villain, and Agnes Moorehead plays a great evil character. 

Her personality is rude and pushy, but she can really turn on a dime and turn on the charm when she wants. 

Again, (spoiler alert!) but she is one who killed Bogart’s wife which is why he got sent to jail in the first place.

Once she figured out she couldn’t have him, then she testified against him in prison.

Bruce Bennett

Bruce Bennet plays a bit part as “Bob” a friend of Irene’s that likes her.

Unfortunately she falls for Bogart’s character and decides she doesn’t want to be more than friends.

Dark Passage Plot

Humphrey Bogart plays Vincent Parry, a man wrongly accused of murder and sentenced to San Quentin. 

After escaping from prison, he is found by Irene Jansen (Lauren Bacall) who offers him a place to stay.

A sympathetic taxi driver refers him to a plastic surgeon as his face is plastered all over wanted newspapers.

After the surgery, his face is covered in bandages.

After the bandages are removed, we can see Bogart’s face for the first time.

The first half of the film is creatively filmed from Bogart’s point of view. 

We don’t see his face until the bandages are removed from the plastic surgery, (about halfway through the movie.)

Bogart’s character Vincent really seems to be out of luck throughout the film.

A number of people get killed throughout the film, and he is always pegged for the murder.

Throughout the film, Vincent Parry keeps trying to leave Irene’s place, then is forced to keep returning. 

A two-bit criminal that had picked up Bogart on his escape from San Quentin recognizes him as Vincent Parry and finds out where he is living with Irene.

He finds out that Irene has money and tries to blackmail Vincent to get her money.

There is a fight and somehow he ends up going over a cliff, adding another dead body to the mix, that is again blamed on Vincent.

Throughout the film, an annoying character by the name of Madge (Agnes Moorehead) keeps trying to come see Irene, and gets suspicious when Irene is acting strangely.

It turns out that Madge is the real killer.

She wanted Vincent for herself, and when he wouldn’t go for her, she killed his wife and set him up to take the fall.

Vincent Parry puts it together and confronts her in her apartment.

There is another struggle and she falls out the window to her death, leaving the Police with another murder to lay at Vincent’s door.

When she dies, gone is anyone who can account for Vincent’s innocence.

Left with no choice, he leaves for South America.

In the final scene Irene Jansen joins him in South America.

Finally, a happy ending to a film noir.

Dark passage ending explained

How did dark passage end?

In the end of Dark Passage, Vincent Parry (Humphrey Bogart) is forced to flee to South America because the only person that could clear his name (Madge) dies by accident.

The Police were now searching for Vincent Parry for 4 murders: his wife, his friend George, the man who tried to blackmail him (Baker), and finally, Madge.

In the final scene, Irene Jansen (Lauren Bacall) is meeting Vincent in a cafe in South America.

Surprisingly, for a film noir, Dark Passage has a good ending.

Despite all the twists and turns, the main character is able to escape with his love.

Is dark passage considered a film noir?

Yes, Dark Passage is a classic film noir. 

Film noirs were popular with crime movies during World War II and often starred flawed main characters, dramatic black and white photography, and often, a femme fatale.

Humphrey Bogart’s character is the cynical lead, Lauren Bacall plays the femme fatale, and of course, we have the dramatic black and white photography.

Fashion in Dark Passage

Lauren Bacall wears her typical classy 1940s fashion throughout the film.

Blouses tucked into high waisted skirts and chic loafers make up her casual outfits.

In the evenings, for some romantic dinners with Vincent, she dresses it up with broaches and other accessories.

For lounging around the house (or rescuing Vincent) she wears a classy housecoat.

In the final scene she wears a 1940s simple suit.

This post was all about Dark Passage 1947 – a must-see for Film Noir fans

What was your favorite scene from Dark Passage? 

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Originally published Aug 2020, Updated Feb 2024

Works Cited:

Dark Passage. Directed by Delmer Daves, performances by Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Bruce Bennett, Agnes Moorehead, Warner Bros, 1947.