Walker that recovering the lost memory means that his nightmares will not return and that he will no longer be able to kill. Meanwhile, one of the servants managed to escape and notify the police. The cabin is surrounded. Walker seems ready to shoot it out, but finds that he cannot pull the trigger, even though his fingers are no longer paralyzed. The flashback ends and the police detective agrees to let Collins analyze the young suspect they had been discussing. Cast William Holden as Al Walker Nina Foch as Betty Lee J. Cobb as Dr. Andrew Collins Adele Jergens as Laura Stevens Stephen Dunne as Owen Talbot Lois Maxwell as Ruth Collins Berry Kroeger as Mike Steven Geray as Prof. Fred Linder Wilton Graff as Frank Stevens Robert Osterloh as Pete Kathryn Card as Nora Ellen Corby as Agnes Reception Critical response When the film was released the film critic at The New York Times gave the film a positive review writing: "William Holden is excellent as the dream-shackled gunman, who is at once ruthless, nervous and explosively dangerous but who grudgingly complies with the doctor's 'screwball' tactics. As counterpoint is Lee J. Cobb's equally fine portrait of the unflustered scientist who is dedicated to 'curing people not killing them.' And, Nina Foch does a competently restrained job as the gangster's moll, who learns he's suffering from an Oedipus complex. The doctor's house guests, including Steven Geray, Adele Jergens and Wilton Graff, and their captors, especially Berry Kroeger, give unobtrusive but neat characterizations. Neat, too, is the word for this small but well-made Christmas package." In 2001, film critic Dennis Schwartz gave the film a mixed review stating the film was well acted, but called the film "pure Hollywood hokum." References External links The Dark Past informational site and DVD review at DVD Beaver (includes images) by Robert Osborne 1948 films 1940s thriller drama films American black-and-white films Columbia Pictures films Film noir Films scored by George Duning Remakes of American films Films about psychiatry Films directed by Rudolph Maté American films based on plays American thriller drama films 1948 drama films 1940s American films