list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Nightmare Alley on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Nightmare_Alley/67970/default.aspx Title: Nightmare Alley
Year: 1947
Director: Edmund Goulding
Plot: 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. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 1
Number of Lists: 4
Number of blog posts: 2
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:32:58 GMTNightmare Alley1947Edmund GouldingNightmare 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 <a href="/players/P____57548/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Tyrone Power</a> 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 (<a href="/players/P____28345/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Coleen Gray</a>) who works in an "electricity" act with an equally dense strongman (<a href="/players/P____46787/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Mike Mazurki</a>). Power also befriends an alcoholic mentalist (<a href="/players/P____37392/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Ian Keith</a>), 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 (<a href="/players/P_____6812/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Joan Blondell</a>), 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 (<a href="/players/P____74247/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Helen Walker</a>) he convinces several wealthy people that he can communicate with their dead loved ones...for a price. One elderly millionaire (<a href="/players/P____33007/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Taylor Holmes</a>) 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. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide1Slightly Tagged (1-5)423http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t57605vtgps.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Nightmare_Alley/67970/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/29/34517.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/29/2008 9:01:07 AM
Body: The 2008 Telluride Film Festival list of movies was revealed this afternoon. Our team on the ground is going to be back with more commentary on the selections but it looks to be an exciting and eclectic festival this year as usual. You can also stay up to date here on SpoutBlog or join in the conversation that develops around these movies on our Telluride Film Festival Group page. The full lineup is after the jump. A New Land (Nybyggarna) Adam Resurrected American Violet An Italian Straw Hat (Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie) Daddy and Lili Marlene Elmer Gantry Everlasting Moments Firaaq Flame & Citron Gomorrah Happy-Go-Lucky Helen Here Is Your Life (Haer Har Du Ditt Liv) Hunger I’ve Loved You So Long… Innocence Unprotected(Nevinost bez Zastite) Kisses Learning Gravity Lola Montès Low Level Flight Meet You in Denver Nightmare Alley O’Horten On Dangerous Ground Philanthropy Pirate for the Sea Pirosmani Private Century Revanche Seconds The Emigrants The Fall of Berlin (Padeniye Berlina) The Good, the Bad and the Weird The Great Sacrifice (Opfergang) The Rest is Silence (Restul e Tacere) Tulpan Waltz With Bashir With a Little Help From Myself (Aide-toi le ciel t’aidera) You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love Zodiac Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:01:07 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com8/29/2008 9:01:07 AMThe 2008 Telluride Film Festival list of movies was revealed this afternoon. Our team on the ground is going to be back with more commentary on the selections but it looks to be an exciting and eclectic festival this year as usual. You can also stay up to date here on SpoutBlog or join in the conversation that develops around these movies on our Telluride Film Festival Group page. The full lineup is after the jump. A New Land (Nybyggarna) Adam Resurrected American Violet An Italian Straw Hat (Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie) Daddy and Lili Marlene Elmer Gantry Everlasting Moments Firaaq Flame & Citron Gomorrah Happy-Go-Lucky Helen Here Is Your Life (Haer Har Du Ditt Liv) Hunger I’ve Loved You So Long… Innocence Unprotected(Nevinost bez Zastite) Kisses Learning Gravity Lola Montès Low Level Flight Meet You in Denver Nightmare Alley O’Horten On Dangerous Ground Philanthropy Pirate for the Sea Pirosmani Private Century Revanche Seconds The Emigrants The Fall of Berlin (Padeniye Berlina) The Good, the Bad and the Weird The Great Sacrifice (Opfergang) The Rest is Silence (Restul e Tacere) Tulpan Waltz With Bashir With a Little Help From Myself (Aide-toi le ciel t’aidera) You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love Zodiac Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/28/34511.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/28/2008 6:01:00 PM
Body: The 2008 Telluride Film Festival list of movies was revealed this afternoon. Our team on the ground is going to be back with more commentary on the selections but it looks to be an exciting and eclectic festival this year as usual. You can also stay up to date here on SpoutBlog or join in the conversation that develops around these movies on our Telluride Film Festival Group page. A New Land (Nybyggarna) Adam Resurrected American Violet An Italian Straw Hat (Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie) Daddy and Lili Marlene Elmer Gantry Everlasting Moments Firaaq Flame & Citron Gomorrah Happy-Go-Lucky Helen Here Is Your Life (Haer Har Du Ditt Liv) Hunger I’ve Loved You So Long… Innocence Unprotected(Nevinost bez Zastite) Kisses Learning Gravity Lola Montès Low Level Flight Meet You in Denver Nightmare Alley O’Horten On Dangerous Ground Philanthropy Pirate for the Sea Pirosmani Private Century Revanche Seconds The Emigrants The Fall of Berlin (Padeniye Berlina) The Good, the Bad and the Weird The Great Sacrifice (Opfergang) The Rest is Silence (Restul e Tacere) Tulpan Waltz With Bashir With a Little Help From Myself (Aide-toi le ciel t’aidera) You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love Zodiac (The Director’s Cut) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:01:00 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com8/28/2008 6:01:00 PMThe 2008 Telluride Film Festival list of movies was revealed this afternoon. Our team on the ground is going to be back with more commentary on the selections but it looks to be an exciting and eclectic festival this year as usual. You can also stay up to date here on SpoutBlog or join in the conversation that develops around these movies on our Telluride Film Festival Group page. A New Land (Nybyggarna) Adam Resurrected American Violet An Italian Straw Hat (Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie) Daddy and Lili Marlene Elmer Gantry Everlasting Moments Firaaq Flame & Citron Gomorrah Happy-Go-Lucky Helen Here Is Your Life (Haer Har Du Ditt Liv) Hunger I’ve Loved You So Long… Innocence Unprotected(Nevinost bez Zastite) Kisses Learning Gravity Lola Montès Low Level Flight Meet You in Denver Nightmare Alley O’Horten On Dangerous Ground Philanthropy Pirate for the Sea Pirosmani Private Century Revanche Seconds The Emigrants The Fall of Berlin (Padeniye Berlina) The Good, the Bad and the Weird The Great Sacrifice (Opfergang) The Rest is Silence (Restul e Tacere) Tulpan Waltz With Bashir With a Little Help From Myself (Aide-toi le ciel t’aidera) You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love Zodiac (The Director’s Cut) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/carnival/MemberTagFilms.aspxcarnival
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