ViewGuide

Created Mar 12, 2013 09:40PM PST • Edited Mar 12, 2013 09:40PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   Considered by many to contain Tyrone Power’s finest performance as an actor(admittedly not setting the bar too high here) “NIghtmare Alley” is a noirish psychological thriller about an ambitious sleazebag who enters the world of carnys with the goal of getting really good as one of those phony fortune tellers. He succeeds, breaking hearts along the way until he goes up against a female psychiatrist who’s smarter and slimier.

   Maybe not the greatest film of all time but a hidden gem if there ever was one and a must see for true film buffs of all ages.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Again we’re grading Power on a curve since Power at his best was still not a great actor. But he had undeniable screen presence which is boosted more by this interesting choice of roles.

   But the best acting is done by a crack cast of character actors including the wonderful Joan Blondell and Mike Mazurki, the professional wrestler who started out his career playing heavies and ended up playing Runyonesque gangsters with a heart of gold.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Great 4.0

    Although many call it a B movie, it actually cost quite a bit of money for the late 40’s. The producers built a carnival from scratch and hired over 100 real sideshow acts to add authenticity. For being somewhat noirish, although I would stop short of calling it “noir” the production values are actually quite impressive.

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.0

    For the time probably some risque quality.

17. Sex Titillating 2.0

18. Violence Fierce 2.0

19. Rudeness Salty 2.0

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0