Nightmare Alley (Fox Film Noir) |  | Director: Edmund Goulding
Actors: Tyrone Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray, Helen Walker, Taylor Holmes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $6.69
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Rating:  58 reviews
Format: Closed-captioned, Black & White, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: FOXD2227315D
UPC: 024543173151
EAN: 0024543173151
Theatrical Release Date: October 28, 1947
Release Date: June 7, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 06/07/2005 Run time: 110 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com
The long-awaited emergence of Nightmare Alley into the light of DVD should achieve two things: make a legendary film noir available to a new generation, and restore the horrific charge to the lately watered-down term geek, a concept that once had the power to give people very bad dreams indeed. To his lasting credit, Tyrone Power--20th Century Fox's extraordinarily handsome but not terribly interesting star of the '30s and '40s--begged for the chance to play Stan Carlisle, the predatory charmer who snakes his way through this bracingly unwholesome story. A spieler for--and lover of--carnival mind reader Zeena (Joan Blondell), he displays uncanny skill at "reading" the susceptible rubes, including a tough sheriff who turns to jelly after Stan psychs him out. Once Stan's mastered the intricate code used in Zeena's act, he's set to dump her for the younger, sexier Molly (Coleen Gray) and go bigtime as nightclub psychic "Stanton the Great." After that, it's only a blasphemous bank shot to superstardom as a miracle worker with his own tabernacle and radio show. Few '40s films ventured as deeply into cynicism as Nightmare Alley, or dealt so frankly with sexuality (with ripplings of polymorphous perversity yet) and power-tripping. The movie's rhythm is uncertain and Jules Furthman's screenplay telegraphs things, but the overall tone is remarkable, as are individual sequences: the freaky forced marriage of Stan and Molly in accordance with carny morality, and a creepy night scene in a park when Stanton the Great raises a ghost for a high-society client. Cinematographer Lee Garmes's chiaroscuro creates a relief map of the carnival world and what passes for life there. As for the geek... well, you'll find out what geek means. Stan does. --Richard T. Jameson
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 58
 Classic Film Noir! November 8, 2009
J. Hanlon (NYC, New York)
An incredible production - dark and moody with a strong sense of raw reality. This was the first time I had seen a Tyrone Power movie - he was perfect for this role.
An excerpt from a Wikipedia entry about Tyrone Power states that, following the four years that Power had served in the military, he had not made a film "until 1946, when he co- starred with Gene Tierney in The Razor's Edge, an adaptation of Somerset Maugham's novel of the same name. Next up for release was a movie that Tyrone Power had to fight hard to make - the film noir, Nightmare Alley. Darryl F. Zanuck was reluctant to allow Power to make the movie; his handsome appearance and charming manner had been a marketable asset to the studio and Zanuck feared that the dark role might hurt Power's image. Zanuck eventually agreed, giving him A-list production values for what normally would be a B film. The movie was directed by Edmund Goulding, and, though the film died at the box office (Zanuck did not publicize it and removed it from release), Power received some of the best reviews of his career. The film was released on DVD in 2005 after years of legal battles, and Power once again received favorable reviews from 21st century critics".([...])
I am glad to have had the opportunity to view this gritty movie and look forward to more in the Fox Film Noir series.
 Total Recall September 10, 2009
Edmonson (Canada)
Tyrone Power stars in this flick from 1947. They don't call it film noir for nothing. This is a dark brooding film. It's about Stanton Carlisle (Tyrone Power), a lowlife working in a carnival, who sees his chance to make it big. At first his desires seem innocent enough, but he inadvertently murders his competition, and before you know it his dream gets bigger and bigger until his greed and swindling gets the best of him and then it all comes crashing down on him. On the psychiatrist's couch Stanton relates his visceral memories of the death of his fellow carnival worker, which the psychiatrist mentions is referred to as "total recall". This visceral response to his past progressively swamps him, and he eventually goes insane. There are some genuinely chilling moments, especially towards the end, which are accentuated by the haunting music and dark shadows.
The picture quality of this movie was okay. The darks were rich, and shadow detail okay. The images are relatively clear, with a minimal amount of dust and scratches, though the images were a bit grainy, and patchy in areas. I've seen much worse however, such as on some of the early Avengers episodes, and they aren't nearly as old as this movie is. The sound though is excellent and clear.
I would give the movie a 4 out of 5, and the film quality a 3 out of 5.
Very gripping, very different Film Noir August 25, 2009
Operafilly (Fallbrook, Ca United States)
I love even the very one dimensional film noir. But this one has lots of several sided characters who are very unusual. I really can't add much to what other reviewers said. Great cinematography, great cast, and a very taut screenplay that keeps you very tense. Powers' character seems to almost believe his own B.S. Giving people what they want by conning them....(like politicians???). But there's a kind side to the guy too. This movie would be hard to bear if there weren't. This film is not for everyone.
Incidentally, my new dvd is an excellent copy and all the features played fine.
Sinister poetry in black and white April 3, 2009
Alicia Czechowski (Baltimore Maryland)
Nightmare Alley is a poetic dream in black and white. As for the story and the acting, the theatrical stylization is perfect for the theme, everybody is one kind of phony or another, scammer scams scammer. Tyrone Power is magnetic and manages to remain sympathetic as he grows sleazier at every turn. This film is such a visual treat, I watched it one time without the sound just to concentrate on the sheer beauty of the film imagery.
Emotionally gripping drama February 15, 2009
Reader (Boca Raton, FL)
A young man working with the carnival crew is looking for a way to become an entertainer. Surrounded by professionals skilled with magic acts, reading people's emotional needs and fine art of acting, he finds his way to become tutored in a fine con act. Soon afterwards he ditches his teacher in order to marry young carneval girl who will serve as his assistant during his performance shows in Chicago. As his ambition grows stronger and stronger, he atarts to move on from show business acts to con acts where his targets are vulnerable members of Chicago's high society. He does not realize that his partner in crime is conning him too before it is too late.
This is a morality tale of a man who grew up orphan and who wanted to reach his. But he aimed too hight and fell down as fast as he went up. Seeing his life as a full circle where he ends up like a person he once pitied himself is a true work of art by creators of this fine work.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 58
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