Nightmare Alley (1947)... and (2021)
Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 9:17AM by Nathaniel R
Greg Hildebrandt riff on a Nightmare Alley posterThe urge to remake is an arguable scourge on cinema but much of what there is to argue about is who is doing the remaking and why. Oftentime the motivations are corporate cynical "cash grab for lazy audiences who will only look at new things... especially if they sound famliar". When true auteurs go there, though, especially with films that aren't enormously famous, there's more room for debate about intention and possibility and aesthetic necessity. The best possible outcome is that we get two very different equally strong films and the "new" model stirs up more interest and appreciation for the OG.
We hope that will be the case when Guillermo Del Toro finishes Nightmare Alley in... 2021? (Production was halted due to COVID-19). The original Nightmare Alley (1947), is a beautifully shot circus noir that's ripe for both rediscovery and reinterpretation...
The noir's plot might best be described as circular since the opening scenes gaze heavily with foreshadow-heavy eyelids at the ending. No, let's call it a spiral, since Carlisle (Tyrone Power) an ambitious talented grifter headed up-up-up career wise but since this is a noir, it's mostly a downward spiral for all involved.
Joan Blondell and Tyrone Power, mentor/mentee and lovers, in "Nightmare Alley"
Old Hollywood's superstar hunk Tyrone Power gives arguably his best performance as this amoral grifter on the rise to fame and fortune. His beauty is part of the long con, masking a decidely ugly interior. He begins the picture as a quick-learning assistant to Zeena (Joan Blondell) a circus "mentalist" who is also enjoying his (ahem) gifts off stage tent. Does the protege love her or is he merely using her? Does she actually care which it is? Blondell and Power, terrific together, never definitely answer the questions about their feelings for each other which keep their scenes crackling. Carlisle is also fascinated with Zeena's alcoholic husband/partner (referred to as "the geek" which is a bit of 40s lingo that is never explained in the picture and decidedly doesn't line up with any modern understanding of that word) though the film never explains or even leans into this in the psychosexual way that perhaps it could.
Zeena isn't the only woman Carlisle is in deep with. The expanding/spiralling narrative also makes room for a young naive carny (Coleen Gray) who all but throws herself at the conman as well as an icy psychiatrist (Helen Walker) who isn't easily duped by his charms. Nightmare Alley (1947) is filled with dark tense pleasures and icky/juicy psychology. The production design, cinematography, direction, and performances are all so intriguing one only wishes a restored print were available for mass consumption.
Coleen Gray (head-over-heels) and Helen Walker (not easily impressed) looking at the mentalist "Carlisle"
Rooney & Cate in the same roles
Which is a long way of saying that you shoud seek out the picture and be excited for the remake. Regarding the latter there are multiple avenues that Del Toro could explore to make this material his own while still honoring a classic noir. And the switch from black and white to full color, not to mention 70+ year difference in filmmaking styles should make for interesting contrasts. While the 1947 picture is well acted, there's also plentiful wiggle room for a new cast to make these parts their own.
Bradley Cooper is taking on the Carlisle role and it's an exciting movie star role, no matter how you look at it. And arriving at a perfect moment in his career, we'd wager, since he's still in his prime but old enough to be looking into the abyss (he's 10 years older than Powers was back-then but stars age more slowly nowadays). Cate Blanchett will take on the psychiatrist role (and it's easy to guess that the internet will gush at her deliciously cold diva stares), Toni Collette will play the fading circus conwoman Zeena (be excited - such a good role for her), and Rooney Mara is the young carny who is way too trusting of her man. The original cast is so good that all of these movie stars, save Mara since that role is the simplest in the original, could theoretically have a challenge to better the original performances.
If the structure of the picture remains the same, you'll see each of those excellent screen actresses basically get her own 'act' to star in alongside one of the very best male movie stars we have. And if that isn't reason enough to be excited for the remake, what is? If Del Toro's Nightmare Alley is well-received any one of those four actors could be up for Oscars (Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress x 3) whenever movies and the Oscars return to us.
Previously in our 1947 retrospective
Reader Comments (13)
I have been wanting to watch the original film since they started working on this new version. Del Toro has said the film is his adaptation of the 1946 novel and not a remake of the 1947 film so his film should feel distinct, he also co-wrote the screenplay with Kim Morgan. My main reservation is that he can be hit or miss, lets hope we get to see this in...2021!
The 47 version of this story is indeed great. It's one of those films that has aged tremendously. I'm extremely exited about the retelling of the story because of the cast as you mention but also the story (novel) has so many great possibilities for great drama.
I do wonder how long we will have to wait for the film as i believe it's half way through filming (Cate has filmed all her scenes) and with the recent pregnancy announcement of Mara how that will affect delaying production when film/tv can actually return to production.
There is nothing wrong with a remake if the new film takes a different view of the original material- and besides we always have the original anyway
Jaragon -- i agree with you in theory but occassionally in practice sometimes remakes (especially if the studio has something to gain from burying or filing away the original) make it harder to see the original or make studios shift their priorities around it. i'm constantly annoyed for example noticing Manchurian Candidate on streaming services only to realize its the forgettable remake and not the 1962 classic. Like who needs to see the 2004 version again?
"i'm constantly annoyed for example noticing Manchurian Candidate on streaming services only to realize its the forgettable remake and not the 1962 classic."
Most streaming services do a pretty poor job with older movies in general; it seems likely to me that the reason you can't find the '62 Manchurian Candidate is because it's from 1962 and not because there's a remake.
I think a big reason that it was a huge flop in its day is that it was too far ahead of its time. Maybe even a few years later when noir had fully taken hold it might have done better but probably not markedly so since it's view is pitch black even for noir. It's dark inkiness is much more in tune with these dark times.
Cooper has a big hill in front of him since this is without question Power's finest hour on film.
Cate Blanchett has the frosty ice queen thing down but again the tragic Helen Walker is pretty untouchable in the layers she brought to the role.
I'm anxious to see what Toni Collette does with Zeena, she's the one I feel the most confident about making the role her own even though Joan Blondell was her usual fantastic self in the part.
Rooney Mara does nothing for me but as you said Molly is the least complex of the roles though Coleen Gray did a nice job with it in the original.
It's a high bar for Del Toro to match and I don't see a lot of room for improvement but since he's using the source novel and not the film it might be unique enough unto itself that the comparisons will be negligible.
Come on Toni's Oscar nomination is way overdue.
Cooper is never a draw for me, but Del Toro directing Blanchett and Collette in the same movie? Count me in. Would love to see them both getting Oscar noms for this.
On the other hand, I worry this might be more of a beautiful looking exercise in style than a story that will move me. That was the case with The Shape of Water and even Sally Hawkins could not change that.
Nathaniel- that has been a long Hollywood practice- MGM kept the 1932 Oscar winning "Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde" out of circulation to promote their inferior 1940 remake.
It's not Collen Gray or Colleen, spelled Coleen Gray, beautiful actress also in "Red River", "Kiss of Death", "The Killing", and "The Leech Woman."
I do plan on seeing the 1947 version of the film in anticipation for Guillermo's version which I'm so eager to see as I know he's going to do something unique with it as he's got a good eye for gorgeous visuals and horror.
Guillermo del Toro has already confirmed that his film isn't a remake of the 1947 film, Nightmare Alley was originally a (stunningly brilliant and underrated) novel by William Lindsay Gresham published in 1946, the 1947 film was an adaptation and this new version will be an entirely different adaptation of the same source material.The 1947 film is very good, but honestly it isn't a patch on the novel which is much darker, more complex and surreal. From what Del Toro has said, he aims to stick much closer to the source material than the 1947 version did so the two films will likely end up being very different.
One example of the difference between the novel and the 1947 film is the prominence of Lilith, the psychologist character played by Helen Walker in that film and Cate Blanchett in Del Toro's film. The character is much more prominent in the book and her relationship with Stan is way more twisted and sexual. It's going to be a hell of a role for Blanchett, the character is pretty much a sociopath who treats other people like they're her playthings. There were many places that the novel went to that the original film just couldn't because of the Hay's Code. Del Toro has said that his film will be R-rated, so hopefully his film will dare to go to those places.
Love the original film, love the novel. Love Del Toro. I can't wait.