Earnest but callow carnival drama stars Tyrone Power as a muscular, ambitious stagehand who uses various women in his life to get ahead, discarding them once more lucrative opportunities come along. Screenwriter Jules Furthman, adapting William Lindsay Gresham's novel, is a bit lofty setting up this story, with an opening conversation that telegraphs the audience of the tragedies forthcoming. Power's performance is a real puzzler: he's on the mark and doesn't do anything out of character, but neither does he invest this anti-hero with any dimensions (indeed, labeling his Stanton Carlisle a 'cad' might seem harsh, as Carlisle appears oblivious to his own actions). Joan Blondell and Coleen Gray are both good in support, though too many of the central dramatic scenes (such as Stanton talking a hayseed sheriff out of raiding the carnival) are rote--they don't feel fresh. ** from ****
Review of Nightmare Alley
