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| Coleen Gray and Tyrone Power in Nightmare Alley |
Nightmare Alley (1947) differs from the majority of film noirs. First, while most film noirs were either low budget B-movies produced by the major studies or independent, low budget B-movies, Nightmare Alley (1947) was an A-picture with a much bigger budget produced by a major studio, namely 20th Century Fox. Second, Nightmare Alley (1947) is far darker than the average film noir. It is a vision of dysfunction and despair that is intense even by today's standards.
Nightmare Alley (1947) was based on the best selling, 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham. Like the novel, Nightmare Alley (1947) centred on Stanton "Stan" Carlisle (Tyrone Power), a shady barker with a travelling carnival. He works with mentalist Zeena Krumbein (Joan Blondell) and her alcoholic ex-husband Pete (Ian Keith). Once a big time act on vaudeville, in the past Zeena and Pete had operated using a code that would effectively allow Zeena to give the illusion of having actual mental powers. Stan cajoles Zeena of the code, only to desert Zeena for Molly (Coleen Gray), the carnival's "Electric Girl." Stan then uses the code to create his own, highly successful mentalism act.
It was in late September of 1946 that 20th Century Fox bought the rights to the novel Nightmare Alley for $50,000. William Lindsay Gresham was also hired as a consultant to screenplay writer Jules Fuhrman, although he is given no on-screen credit. According to a November 1946 issue of The Hollywood Reporter, Mark Stevens and Anne Baxter were set to star in the movie, with William Keighley directing. By January 1947, Lloyd Bacon was set to be the director. In a February 1947 memo, 20th Century Fox head Darryl F. Zanuck suggested Celeste Holm as Zeena, June Allyson as Molly, and either Marlene Dietrich, Luise Rainer or Constance Bennett as psychologist Lilith Ritter.
Ultimately, it would be Tyrone Power would play the lead role of Stan Carlisle. As of the mid-Forties, Tyrone Power was best known for such swashbuckling movies as The Mark of Zorro (1940) and The Black Swan (1942). He was eager to expand beyond those sorts of roles, and the part of seedy, dishonest Stan Carlisle was certainly a far cry from Zorro or Captain Jamie Waring. As to Colleen Gray, her husband at the time, director Rod Amateau, brought the book home and told her to read it. She did so and thought she was "born to play Molly." She then met with Darryl F. Zanuck. He told her if they got a big name to play Stan, then they could use an unknown actress as Molly. But if they only got a medium star as Stan, they would have to go with a bigger name for Molly. Coleen Gray then tested for the role opposite with some of the men who were testing for Stan. These tests would not only lead to her being cast as Molly in Nightmare Alley (1947). Director Henry Hathaway saw the tests and decided he wanted her as Nettie in Kiss of Death (1947). As to director Edmund Goulding, Tyrone Power reportedly campaigned for him to helm the picture.
While Tyrone Power was drawn tot he role of the conniving Stan Carlisle, Darryl F. Zanuck was not so enamoured with the novel. The novel was dark even by today's standards, and Darryl F. Zanuck wanted it toned down considerably. In story conferences for Nightmare Alley Darryl F. Zanuck criticized the outlines as "lacking a sympathetic character to root for." He also insisted that Stan be made more relatable by giving him some good traits. It was also Darryl F. Zanuck who suggested that screenwriter Jules Furthman soften the novel's extremely bleak ending. Nightmare Alley (1947) would not only run afoul of Darryl F. Zanuck. The Production Code Administration insisted that 20th Century Fox tone down its treatment of "illicit sex and adultery."
While Darryl F. Zanuck was not particularly fond of the movie's source material, 20th Century Fox was committed to bringing a travelling carnival to life on screen. They used 10 acres of the 20th Century Fox backlot to build a fully operational carnival. They also hired over 100 sideshow attractions, as well as carnival workers. Adding to the film's authenticity was that some scenes were filmed at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, California.
Given that Darryl F. Zanuck was not particularly fond of the movie's source material and not too happy that his romantic lead was playing an unscrupulous character, 20th Century Fox provided Nightmare Alley (1947) with little in the way of promotion. To make matters worse, reviews for the film were decidedly mixed. The New York Times review praised Tyrone Power and others' performances, but stated, "this film traverses distasteful dramatic ground and only rarely does it achieve any substance as entertainment."James Agee in both The Nation and Time viewed Nightmare Alley (1947) somewhat more positively, writing in Time, " They have seldom forgotten that the original novel they were adapting is essentially intelligent trash, and they have never forgotten that on the screen pretty exciting things can be made of trash." Variety also gave a somewhat more positive review than The New York Times, beginning their review with "Nightmare Alley is a harsh, brutal story told with a sharp clarity of an etching. There isn't a really sympathetic or inspiring character in the show, but acting, direction, and production values lift the piece to the plane of gripping drama."
Made for $1,900,000, Nightmare Alley (1947) made only around $2 million at the box office. This meant that 20th Century Fox actually lost money on the film. While it received mixed reviews and bombed at the box office, Nightmare Alley (1947) would be re-evaluated and over time has become regarded as one of the greatest film noirs of all time. The film is regarded as some of Tyrone Power's best work.
In 2021, a new adaptation of the novel was released, directed by Guillermo del Toro. Given times have changed, Nightmare Alley (2021) is more faithful to the novel. It received largely positive reviews, although, like the 1947 version, it lost money at the box office.
Even though compromises had to be made in adapting the novel Nightmare Alley to the screen in 1947, Nightmare Alley (1947) remains intense. In fact, at times it borders as much on horror as it does film noir. Unlike many film noirs, it focused not on violent crimes or murder, but instead on the corruption and psychological decay both in one individual (Stan), as well as American society. It also broke with Tyrone Power's previous, heroic roles. Nightmare Alley (1947) may not have been particularly well-received upon its initial release, but it has since become regarded as a classic.