Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by tinear (A) on February 20, 2008 at 09:51:19

that's what seeing the very, very dark "Nightmare Alley" is like.
Tyrone Power, fresh from a career re-defining lead in "The Razor's Edge," again shows his prodigious theatric talents in a deeply moving portrayal of a "mentalist" con man with vaulting ambition.
Unlike many noir protagonists, Power's is fully fleshed out, not a simple rogue or womanizer but a man who fully realizes the moral implications of his actions.
Coleen Gray, as his very young and trusting wife, is as fresh as could be expected of a Nebraska farmer's daugher-- and that was her background.
There are many superb performers in this film, the cinematography and music are excellent, also. Unlike many noir films, this one was an "A" production.
With many noir films, the chief appeal is an insight into a violent, cruel, and dark world which we never will experience first-hand. "Nightmare Alley" is terrifying because the viewer, with very little imagination, can see himself falling into the same trap as the con man, with equally horrific results.