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