Comments on: Nightmare Alley

By: Phillip Johnston

Phillip Johnston — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:12:12 +0000

You’re welcome. His performance really is wonderful. I find myself going back to his one big scene just to watch him. Its almost mesmerizing when starts to cold read Tyrone Power – its like a 180 degree switch from drunk to professional entertainer … but completely in character.

A brilliant role.

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:20:58 +0000

Great review. Great movie. Great underrated actor.

Also, thanks for mentioning Ian Keith, an accomplished stage actor who worked in many films. It’s a tribute to Power that he surrounded himself with the best rather than approving a bunch of weak actors so that he could look all the better. He knew a strong cast would only elevate the entire film. I’m so glad that, even though he’s gone 50 years now, his work and this wonderful film have gotten the recognition they deserve.

By: Phillip Johnston

Phillip Johnston — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:06:37 +0000

Haha. Thanks, Sam. I didn’t know if that was Frank’s mistake or if he was just agreeing with Luke on Joan Blondell and the Spiritual Undercurrents.

Wow … that would be a great band name.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:48:33 +0000

Frank, just one error there. As much as I like Luke’s reviews, HE did not write this—Phillip did!!! No biggie, just want to see the right guy applauded.

By: Frank Aida

Frank Aida — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:14:52 +0000

don’t think I saw this, but Luke knows his stuff. Great review. I will try and get the DVD on netflix.

By: Cinexcellence

Cinexcellence — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:01:39 +0000

I’ll get back to this when I see it.

By: Lou A.

Lou A. — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:46:44 +0000

and yet another great film noir essay–these guys are really outdoing themselves!

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:10:53 +0000

Doom and gloom indeed, and Lee Garmes has helped fashion an elegant noir in the best sense.(and that was a terrific still you chose there showcasing a dazzling screen cap) Your argument for the use of black and white over color as an evocative tool in this genre is quite convincing.
Your analysis of the characters is absolutely superb, and having seen this film a number of times over the years I can surely concur. Even the four-star rating is dead-on, methinks.
Alexander’s piece yesterday was magisterial and twice as long as this, but I dare say yesterday’s film deserved such treatment. Nonetheless, your deft and examining piece is surely on the same level in terms of scholarly approach and revealing insights.
Phillip, you have so much to proud of here.

By: G

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:50:01 +0000

I really enjoyed this movie – I’d never heard of it until it was a part of noir month. I didn’t read the end of the movie as sentimentally as you did, but maybe that’s just because I was too caught up in its darkness to notice a swerve. I thought, Hays Code or no, that the filmmakers were quite aware that the redemption at the end was, as you put it, pseudo.

Frankly, I didn’t read Zeena as the femme fatale at all. I saw our boy Tyrone as the homme fatale, who meets his match in the form of a femme fatale of a different variety: psycho-analytic. My favorite character by far was the Helen Walker psycho-analyst; as someone interested in psycho-analytic theory, the idea that a psycho-analyst is just a con man in psychiatrist’s clothing was a pleasant depravity.

By: Luke Harrington

Luke Harrington — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:31:10 +0000

Dude…I love Joan Blondell. I need to check this one out. Nice review — I appreciate how you engage the spiritual undercurrents.