Tolo
October 10th, 2007, 11:20 PM
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/4347/51gv1zgg34lss500rn9.jpg
Nightmare Alley (1947)
Directors: Edmund Goulding (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0332539/)
Writers: William Lindsay Gresham (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340343/) (novel) Jules Furthman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0299154/) (screenplay)
Actors: Tyrone Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray, Helen Walker, Taylor Holmes, Mike Mazurki
I am not going to go into extreme details about every character or the plot as I feel it could be spoiled.
Carnies, Tarot Cards, Psychics", oh my! When the film started and I saw the carnival setting, I knew I was going to love it. Carnies in a noir? Awesome. We've all heard the stories of convict, druggie, carnival workers and their less than perfect past. A perfect setting for the genre.
Nightmare Alley tells the story of the rise and fall Stan Carlisle (Tyrone Power (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000061/)), a carnie who is unhappy with his job and wants to move on to other bigger and better things. When he finds out that two of his co-carnies, Zeena (Joan Blondell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000951/)) and Pete (Ian Keith (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0445246/)), used to be top rate husband and wife "psychic" nightclub act, he sets his mind on obtaining their secret. (Without going to far into detail, one would collect items from the audience and through code tell the other one what it was, and the other. while blindfolded, would recite what the item was. Pete became an alcoholic, so they lost the fame and fortune.) Stan tries to woo over Zeena into giving him the code but she refuses on the account of her husband. When Pete dies due to an accident...The doors of opportunity fly open for Stan and it begins a dark tale of deceit and greed.
Tyrone Power was perfect for the role of Stan and as I found out from the infamous Wikipedia, he bought the rights to the novel so he specifically could play the lead role. He's charismatic and charming but at the same time, unlikable and unsympathetic. When his character starts to descend I couldn't help but think he deserved every bad thing that happened to him considering what he did to get where he did.
And what noir is complete without a hot dame...In comes Molly played by Coleen Gray (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336531/). Her character is a perfect contrast to that of Stan's. She's sweet, innocent, and lovable. She is a bit immature and naive when it comes to Stan's motives but she can't help but do anything for the man she loves. With that said, I could see some people getting annoyed with her character. She comes off as whiny at points but it really worked for me.
Beyond the characters and the plot, this movie really shined in itss darkness. The sets were highly complimented by the typical noir style of lighting, especially the carnival. Lots of dark shadows engulfing the sets, accenting them at the same time, even in daylight. The cinematography was also top notch with some interesting framing and movement.
***Spoilers below***
The only thing I didn't really care for about this movie was how in the end, Stan became Pete and Molly became Zeena. (Interesting note: The male names both have four letters and the females, 5.) He literally became the drunken, sad sap and Molly the caring wife. Not only that, he became what he inquired about in the beginning of the film, the geek.
***End Spoilers***
All and all, I recommend this movie to anyone who is a not just of noir but of drama as well. This is not a fast paced, action thriller full of suspense and mystery. There's a fair share of seedy individuals and actions but no car chases or private detectives.
8/10
Links
IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039661/) | Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007ZEO8C/dreamindemon-20) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightmare_Alley_(1947_film))
Pictures
http://img16.imagevenue.com/loc1188/th_74961_coleengray5aa7_122_1188lo.jpg (http://img16.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74961_coleengray5aa7_122_1188lo.jpg) http://img177.imagevenue.com/loc131/th_74966_nightmarealley2_122_131lo.jpg (http://img177.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74966_nightmarealley2_122_131lo.jpg) http://img103.imagevenue.com/loc885/th_74967_title_nightmare_alley_dvd_review_122_885l o.jpg (http://img103.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74967_title_nightmare_alley_dvd_revi ew_122_885lo.jpg)http://img193.imagevenue.com/loc380/th_74968_us_Edmund_Goulding_Nightmare_Alley_DVD_Re view_Tyrone_Power_542-r1_122_380lo.jpg (http://img193.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74968_us_Edmund_Goulding_Nightmare_A lley_DVD_Review_Tyrone_Power_542-r1_122_380lo.jpg)
http://img192.imagevenue.com/loc598/th_74973_us_Edmund_Goulding_Nightmare_Alley_DVD_Re view_Tyrone_Power_1516_122_598lo.jpg (http://img192.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74973_us_Edmund_Goulding_Nightmare_A lley_DVD_Review_Tyrone_Power_1516_122_598lo.jpg)
Nightmare Alley (1947)
Directors: Edmund Goulding (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0332539/)
Writers: William Lindsay Gresham (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340343/) (novel) Jules Furthman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0299154/) (screenplay)
Actors: Tyrone Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray, Helen Walker, Taylor Holmes, Mike Mazurki
I am not going to go into extreme details about every character or the plot as I feel it could be spoiled.
Carnies, Tarot Cards, Psychics", oh my! When the film started and I saw the carnival setting, I knew I was going to love it. Carnies in a noir? Awesome. We've all heard the stories of convict, druggie, carnival workers and their less than perfect past. A perfect setting for the genre.
Nightmare Alley tells the story of the rise and fall Stan Carlisle (Tyrone Power (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000061/)), a carnie who is unhappy with his job and wants to move on to other bigger and better things. When he finds out that two of his co-carnies, Zeena (Joan Blondell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000951/)) and Pete (Ian Keith (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0445246/)), used to be top rate husband and wife "psychic" nightclub act, he sets his mind on obtaining their secret. (Without going to far into detail, one would collect items from the audience and through code tell the other one what it was, and the other. while blindfolded, would recite what the item was. Pete became an alcoholic, so they lost the fame and fortune.) Stan tries to woo over Zeena into giving him the code but she refuses on the account of her husband. When Pete dies due to an accident...The doors of opportunity fly open for Stan and it begins a dark tale of deceit and greed.
Tyrone Power was perfect for the role of Stan and as I found out from the infamous Wikipedia, he bought the rights to the novel so he specifically could play the lead role. He's charismatic and charming but at the same time, unlikable and unsympathetic. When his character starts to descend I couldn't help but think he deserved every bad thing that happened to him considering what he did to get where he did.
And what noir is complete without a hot dame...In comes Molly played by Coleen Gray (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336531/). Her character is a perfect contrast to that of Stan's. She's sweet, innocent, and lovable. She is a bit immature and naive when it comes to Stan's motives but she can't help but do anything for the man she loves. With that said, I could see some people getting annoyed with her character. She comes off as whiny at points but it really worked for me.
Beyond the characters and the plot, this movie really shined in itss darkness. The sets were highly complimented by the typical noir style of lighting, especially the carnival. Lots of dark shadows engulfing the sets, accenting them at the same time, even in daylight. The cinematography was also top notch with some interesting framing and movement.
***Spoilers below***
The only thing I didn't really care for about this movie was how in the end, Stan became Pete and Molly became Zeena. (Interesting note: The male names both have four letters and the females, 5.) He literally became the drunken, sad sap and Molly the caring wife. Not only that, he became what he inquired about in the beginning of the film, the geek.
***End Spoilers***
All and all, I recommend this movie to anyone who is a not just of noir but of drama as well. This is not a fast paced, action thriller full of suspense and mystery. There's a fair share of seedy individuals and actions but no car chases or private detectives.
8/10
Links
IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039661/) | Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007ZEO8C/dreamindemon-20) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightmare_Alley_(1947_film))
Pictures
http://img16.imagevenue.com/loc1188/th_74961_coleengray5aa7_122_1188lo.jpg (http://img16.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74961_coleengray5aa7_122_1188lo.jpg) http://img177.imagevenue.com/loc131/th_74966_nightmarealley2_122_131lo.jpg (http://img177.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74966_nightmarealley2_122_131lo.jpg) http://img103.imagevenue.com/loc885/th_74967_title_nightmare_alley_dvd_review_122_885l o.jpg (http://img103.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74967_title_nightmare_alley_dvd_revi ew_122_885lo.jpg)http://img193.imagevenue.com/loc380/th_74968_us_Edmund_Goulding_Nightmare_Alley_DVD_Re view_Tyrone_Power_542-r1_122_380lo.jpg (http://img193.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74968_us_Edmund_Goulding_Nightmare_A lley_DVD_Review_Tyrone_Power_542-r1_122_380lo.jpg)
http://img192.imagevenue.com/loc598/th_74973_us_Edmund_Goulding_Nightmare_Alley_DVD_Re view_Tyrone_Power_1516_122_598lo.jpg (http://img192.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74973_us_Edmund_Goulding_Nightmare_A lley_DVD_Review_Tyrone_Power_1516_122_598lo.jpg)