Nightmare Alley
The movie is based on William Lindsay Gresham’s acclaimed and controversial 1946 novel Nightmare Alley, which was intermittently banned and appeared in censored editions for decades. His depiction of human nature was regarded as obscene, along with his prose.
This tale of karma follows ambitious carnival barker Stanton Carlisle (Tyrone Power/Bradley Cooper) who masters an ingenious mentalist act. Reinventing himself as a sophisticated nightclub performer, his charisma turns carnival tricks into fame and fortune. But greed and subtle weaknesses lure Carlisle into a criminal scheme with his own therapist – a most dastardly and dangerous femme fatale. That role was particularly dynamic – a lady who could manipulate men with her mind as well as her body.
Tyrone Power read the book and envisioned himself in the leading role. MGM Studio head Darryl F. Zanuck did not. A romantic hero and swashbuckling star suddenly appearing as a morally corrupt and increasingly unstable con man was bad for business, shattering a carefully cultivated matinee image. But that was the point for Power; he wanted to demonstrate acting versatility. Although Power himself received good critical reviews, the movie followed a familiar film noir pattern: a box office failure to be revived years later and then celebrated.
In general, cinema fans seem to like originals over remakes, especially in noir. Both versions of Nightmare Alley will give you nightmares. Guillermo del Toro’s 2021 take is more graphic, psychologically elaborate, and bleaker. Its femme fatale, played by Cate Blanchett, is developed in far greater depth—and brilliantly evil. The film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Perhaps the different interpreations stem from the censorship corset on cinema portrayals in Hollywood's Golden Years compared to the artistic freedom we enjoy today.
