Nightmare Alley (1947)

My Review

Tyrone Power plays a roustabout who lands a job in a carnival, only to get involved in all sorts of problems with the eccentric people working there. This riveting film noir was well directed by Edmond Goulding (“Of Human Bondage” 1944), keeping everything running smoothly like a well-oiled machine. The outstanding screenplay by Jules Furthman was adapted from William Lindsay Gresham’s 1946 novel of the same name.

The supporting cast includes Colleen Gray, Joan Blondell, Helen Walker, Taylor Holmes, Mike Mazurki, and Ian Keith. 20th Century Fox built a ten acre carnival on their back lot to make the filming look authentic, and also got some shots at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar. However, “Nightmare Alley” failed miserably at the box office, probably due to the picture’s dark themes, much to the disappointment of producer George Jessel and Fox’s studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck. It is considered a classic nowadays and a great movie view on DVD in the 21st century.