Against All Odds vs. Out of the Past: When 1940s Noir Met 1980s Desire

The 1984 neo-noir Against All Odds, directed by Taylor Hackford, is a loose—but official—remake of Out of the Past, the towering 1947 classic directed by Jacques Tourneur.

At first glance, they appear worlds apart. One is drenched in black-and-white shadows and postwar cynicism. The other glows with 1980s excess, sweat, and pop music. Yet beneath the surface, both films are telling the same fatal story—about love, corruption, and the lie that we can ever truly escape our past.

The Noir Blueprint: Out of the Past (1947)

Released in 1947, Out of the Past is a cornerstone of classic film noir. It blends shadow-heavy cinematography, razor-sharp dialogue, a labyrinthine plot, and one of the most iconic love triangles in American cinema.

The film stars Robert Mitchum as Jeff Bailey, a former private detective who has reinvented himself as a small-town gas station owner. He seems safe—until his old life finds him.

Enter Whit Sterling, a powerful gambler played by Kirk Douglas in one of his earliest breakout roles. Whit forces Jeff to track down his former lover, Kathie Moffat—the seductive and dangerous femme fatale played by Jane Greer.

What follows is a slow spiral into betrayal, murder, and stolen money, stretching from sun-drenched Mexico back to the shadowed streets of America. No one is innocent. Everyone is lying. And the ending feels less like a conclusion than a quiet surrender to fate.

Based on the novel Build My Gallows High by Daniel Mainwaring, the screenplay was written by Mainwaring under the pseudonym Geoffrey Homes—its cynical poetry still unmatched in the genre.

⸻

The 1980s Reinvention: Against All Odds (1984)

By contrast, Against All Odds updates the story for a new era—one defined by money, celebrity, and moral excess.

Here, the weary detective becomes a disgraced pro football player. Jeff Bridges plays Terry Brogan, hired by sleazy nightclub owner and gambler James Woods to find his missing girlfriend, Jessie Wyler, played by Rachel Ward.

Jessie has fled to Mexico after stealing from Jake, and when Terry finds her, the two fall into a passionate, dangerous romance. But, just like in the original, love becomes a trap, not an escape.

The remake adds distinctly 1980s elements—sports corruption, drugs, high-end nightlife, and steamy sexuality. And in one of the film’s most inspired touches, Jane Greer returns in a cameo as Jessie’s wealthy, morally corrupt mother—a haunting echo of the character she once played.

Which One Wins?

Out of the Past is almost universally regarded as one of the greatest film noirs ever made. Its poetic sense of doom, layered performances, and tight narrative still feel timeless.

Against All Odds, while stylish and entertaining, is rightly viewed as the lesser film. It trades subtlety for sensuality, fatalism for melodrama. Still, its moody atmosphere, strong performances, chart-topping Phil Collins theme give it a powerful 80s identity.

For noir purists, the original is essential.

For fans of 80s cinema, Against All Odds stands as a compelling, emotionally charged reimagining.

Two eras. One tragic love story.

The same fate—told in different shadows.

One more interesting note regarding Against All Odds. The movie has become well known for the number one hit song, Take A Look at Me Now by Phil Collins. In many ways, the song has outlived the movie, becoming one of the biggest hits of Phil Collins' remarkable career and a song that has become a radio staple for nearly 40 years.

Though Take a Look at Me Now fits perfectly into the story of Against All Odds, it wasn't initially written for the movie. Collins wrote the song regarding his 1981 divorce and decided he didn't really care for it. He shelved it, didn't include in his next two solo albums in 1981 and 1983.

Then, he was chosen from a list of artists by director Taylor Hackford to deliver a song for the Against All Odds soundtrack. After watching the film, Phil retooled the lyrics and re-recorded the song specifically for the movie. How you feel about this fact is up to you, myself, it does further my opinion that the song is blandly appealing but mostly forgettable.

Nevertheless, Taylor Hackford got his hit soundtrack song and Phil Collins got to offload a song he didn't have any other use for. Me, I feel like I can hear both of these motivations within the song, the broad emotionality of it and the relatively safe emotions expressed with broad theatricality. It does fit the movie but what does that actually say about Against All Odds?

⸻

Tags

Film Noir, Neo-Noir, 1980s Movies, Classic Cinema, Jeff Bridges, Robert Mitchum, Remakes, Crime Films, Vintage Hollywood