The Dark Past

The Dark Past The Dark Past (1948) Country USA Directed by Rudolph Maté Release Date 1948 Studio Columbia Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Al Walker William Holden Betty Nina Foch Dr. Andrew Collins Lee J. Cobb Laura Stevens Adele Jurgens Owen Talbot Stephen Dunne Ruth Collins Lois Maxwell

The Dark Past is a 1948 psychological noir thriller adapted from the Broadway play Blind Alley and considered a remake of the 1939 Columbia Pictures film of the same name which starred Chester Morris, Ralph Bellamy, and Ann Dvorak in the roles that would be played by William Holden, Lee J. Cobb, and Nina Foch. The Dark Past also provided an early role for Lois Maxwell, later to be famous as Miss Moneypenny in the first 14 James Bond movies.

The following weapons were used in the film The Dark Past:

Handguns

Smith & Wesson Military & Police (2" Barrel)

Fugitive killer Al Walker (William Holden) carries a snub-nosed Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolver, the precursor to the Smith & Wesson Model 10. Walker keeps his 2"-barreled revolver in a shoulder holster.

Smith & Wesson Model 10 snub nose revolver - .38 Special. Early Model

Betty and Al draw their sidearms inside the Collins home.

The distinctive hard black rubber Smith & Wesson grips stick out of Al's shoulder holster.

Al draws his Smith & Wesson revolver.

Al hides with his revolver in hand.

Mauser 1934

Betty (Nina Foch), Al's gun moll, carries a Mauser 1934 pocket pistol.

1934 Mauser Pocket Pistol - 7.65x17mmSR (.32 ACP)

Betty rounds up the Collins houseguests and staff.

Betty and Al draw their sidearms inside the Collins home.

Colt Detective Special

Al's two henchmen, Mike (Berry Kroeger) and Pete (Robert Osterioh), carry first-generation Colt Detective Special snub-nose revolvers. Frank Stevens (Wilton Graff) takes Mike's Detective Special away from him after attacking him with a fireplace poker.

Colt Detective Special 1st Gen with Round Butt - .38 Special

Pete holds his Detective Special on the Collins houseguests and staff.

Mike draws his Detective Special after handing off his Winchester Model 1907 rifle to Al.

Frank picks up Mike's dropped Detective Special.

Colt Official Police

Al recalls a painful memory from his youth where his father had carried a Colt Official Police revolver that a young Al had picked up off the ground.

Colt Official Police - 4" Barrel - .38 Special

Al's father fires his Official Police at the police.

Al's father drops his Official Police.

A young Al reaches for his father's Official Police.

Smith & Wesson Military & Police (5" Barrel)

The state troopers that descend on the Collins household carry Smith & Wesson Military & Police service revolvers with 5" barrels.

Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver with 5" Barrel - .38 Special

Two troopers hold their Smith & Wesson revolvers on Al Walker.

Rifles

Marlin

Dr. Andrew Collins (Lee J. Cobb) owns a Marlin lever-action hunting rifle, which he lends to his colleague, Professor Fred Linder (Steven Geray). After Professor Linder brings it back to the Collins home, Al Walker (William Holden) briefly handles it as well.

Dr. Collins hands his Marlin rifle to Professor Linder.

Bill (Phil Tully), a state policeman, pulls Dr. Collins' Marlin rifle out of Professor Linder's back seat. Admittedly, it was relatively irresponsible for Professor Linder to transport the loaded rifle uncased and uncovered in the back seat of his open-top convertible.

Professor Linder attempts a ruse with the Marlin rifle after spotting Al Walker's hiding place.

Al Walker demonstrates with the Marlin rifle.

Winchester Model 1907

As in Blind Alley, the primary rifle handled by the criminals is a Winchester Model 1907 semi-automatic rifle with a five-round magazine. Mike (Berry Kroeger) handles the weapon for most of the movie, eventually tossing it to Al Walker (William Holden) to use for the final scene though both Dr. Collins (Lee J. Cobb) and Betty (Nina Foch) handle it as well.

Winchester Model 1907 with 5-round magazine - .351 Winchester

Mike holds his Winchester Model 1907 on his room full of captives.

Mike threatens the Stevens couple.

The barrel of Mike's Winchester is seen as he listens to a radio report on Al Walker's escape.

Mike looks out the bedroom door, Winchester Model 1907 in hand.

Al takes command of the Winchester Model 1907.

Betty briefly holds the Winchester Model 1907 while Al prepares for battle.

Al aims Mike's Winchester Model 1907 rifle.

Shotguns

Winchester Model 1897 Trench

Several state policemen that surround the Collins home have Winchester Model 1897 Trench pump-action shotguns.

Winchester Model 1897 "Trench Gun" - 12 gauge.

A shotgun-armed policeman takes his position outside the Collins home.