Nightmare Alley [Criterion Collection]

Nightmare Alley [Criterion Collection]

Director: Edmund Goulding Cast: Tyrone Power
Tyrone Power
, Joan Blondell
Joan Blondell
, Coleen Gray
Coleen Gray
, Helen Walker
Helen Walker
Edmund Goulding
Nightmare Alley [Criterion Collection]

Nightmare Alley [Criterion Collection]

Director: Edmund Goulding Cast: Tyrone Power
Tyrone Power
, Joan Blondell
Joan Blondell
, Coleen Gray
Coleen Gray
, Helen Walker
Helen Walker
Edmund Goulding

DVD (Subtitled)

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Overview

Nightmare Alley is the sordid tale of a conniving young man who, in the words of one of the film's supporting characters, ends up low because he aimed so high. Drifter Tyrone Power sweet-talks his way into a job as barker for a rundown carnival. He is fascinated by an illegal side-show attraction called "The Geek," a near-lunatic who bites the heads off live chickens and then is "paid off" with a cheap bottle of rotgut and a warm place to sleep it off. Otherwise, Power's attention is focussed on a beautiful if slightly stupid carnival performer (Coleen Gray) who works in an "electricity" act with an equally dense strongman (Mike Mazurki). Power also befriends an alcoholic mentalist (Ian Keith), who demonstrates how easy it is to fool an audience into thinking that his mind reading is genuine. When the mentalist dies after accidentally drinking wood alcohol, Power works his way into the confidence of the performer's widow (Joan Blondell), who teaches Power all the tricks and code words of the mind-reading racket. Power walks out on Blondell in favor of Cathy Downs, who marries him and becomes his partner in a classy nightclub mentalist act. But Power is dissatisfied with show business, and with the help of a beautiful but shifty psychiatrist (Helen Walker) he convinces several wealthy people that he can communicate with their dead loved ones...for a price. One elderly millionaire (Taylor Holmes) offers Power a fortune if he can conjure up the spirit of the millionaire's dead daughter. Power enlists his wife to impersonate the deceased girl, but at the crucial moment she has an attack of conscience and exposes the fraud. His career ruined, Power goes to the crooked psychiatrist for help, but she laughs in his face and calls the cops. He escapes the law by going on the bum, and before long is a drunken derelict. When he approaches a carnival for work, he is told that there is only one job open...as a "geek." When asked if he wants the job, the defeated Power replies "Mister, I was born for it." Based on a lurid bestseller by William Lindsay Gresham, Nightmare Alley was Tyrone Power's attempt to break away from romantic leads in favor of roles with more substance. The picture wasn't a success, but it proved that Power was more than just a pretty face.

Product Details

Release Date: 05/25/2021
UPC: 0715515259118
Original Release: 1947
Rating: NR
Source: Criterion Collection
Language: English
Time: 1:51:00
Sales rank: 20,714

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Tyrone Power Stanton Carlisle
Joan Blondell Zeena
Coleen Gray Molly,Detective
Helen Walker Dr. Lilith Ritter
Taylor Holmes Ezra Grindle
Mike Mazurki Bruno
Ian Keith Pete
Julia Dean Mrs. Peabody
James Flavin Clem Hoatley
Roy Roberts McGraw
James Burke Town Marshal
Maurice Navarro Fire Eater
Robert Karnes Hotel Bellboy
Harry Hays Morgan Headwaiter
Albin Robeling Captain
George Andre Beranger Geek
Marjorie Wood Mrs. Prescott
Harry Cheshire Mr. Prescott
Edward Clark Farmer
Eddy Waller Old Farmer
Mike Lally Charlie
George Davis Waiter
Hollis Jewell Delivery Boy
Laura Treadwell Woman
Nina Gilbert Worried Mother
Bill Free Man in Spode Room
Henry Hall Man
Jerry Miley Friend in Spode Room
Gilbert Wilson Husband in Spode Room
June Bolyn Maid in Grindle Room
Gene Roth Masseur
Charles Flickinger Bellboy
Florence Auer Housekeeper
Al Herman Cab Driver
George Chandler Hoboe
Oliver Blake Hoboe
Emmett Lynn Hoboe
George Lloyd Hoboe
Jack Raymond Hoboe
John Wald Radio Announcer,Radio Announcer
Clancy Cooper Stage Manager
George Mathews Knife Thrower
Chet Brandenburg Actor
Sayre Dearing Actor
Harry V. Cheshire Mr. Prescott
Cyril Mockridge Composer

Technical Credits
Edmund Goulding Director
George Jessel Producer
Fred Sersen Special Effects
Jules Furthman Screenwriter
Roger Heman Sound/Sound Designer
E. Clayton Ward Sound/Sound Designer
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