We have talked about film noir here from time to and one the best films of that style is 1947s Nightmare Alley. Some consider Tyrone Powers role in the film to be the best of his career. I just watched the modern re-make of Nightmare Alley with Bradley Cooper taking over Powers role. The new version is quite close to the 1947 film and where it varies, it does so for the better. Excellent supporting cast, too. Well worth a watch, especially if you enjoy the original. Spoiler: The final scene is worth staying for.
End of Earth: 2 Miles Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
Posts: 16558 | Location: Marquette MI | Registered: July 08, 2014
I also watched it last night. Del Toro's style lends itself well to the noir homage, so it was a wonderful looking film. The story was intriguing, although you could pretty much see everything coming, especially the ending. I thought the foreshadowing was just a tad heavy-handed. But the acting was good and it was a great cast. Solid B+/A- from me.
I'm gonna vote for the funniest frog with the loudest croak on the highest log.
Posts: 10652 | Location: Marietta, GA | Registered: February 10, 2009
Saw the new del Toro movie at the theater and saw the 1947 movie on TCM a few weeks ago. Thought the original movie was interesting, but the new movie was better. The new movie benefited from being longer, so the characters were fleshed out a lot more. Also, the new movie ended at the right time, and didn’t have the happy ending of the 1947 movie. I think I heard that the book didn’t have the happy ending either?
Posts: 3466 | Location: South FL | Registered: February 09, 2007
Originally posted by Dwill104: I think I heard that the book didn’t have the happy ending either?
It does not, no. Nor did the end to the author's (William Lindsey Gresham) own life, who at 53 and ill, depressed, and alcoholic, took his own life in a dirty, decrepit hotel in New York City.
Posts: 5088 | Location: Western WA | Registered: October 20, 2003
Originally posted by at-home-daddy: Watching it tonight...I have the original book and have seen the earlier film, and am really looking forward to Del Toro's interpretation.
...and it was just as good as I'd hoped, really enjoyed it. Much truer in tone and ending to Gresham's original book than the earlier film.
Posts: 5088 | Location: Western WA | Registered: October 20, 2003
