Nightmare Alley, 1947 (Grade C+)

Director: Edmund Goulding
Awards--none that we know of...
Starring: Tyrone Power; Joan Blondall;  Coleen Gray

sez says: This is a bit of a hidden treasure. It is not a fabulous, wonderful, ya gotta see it right now sort of treasure--but more of a it is worth seeing sometime sort of treasure. It has a touch of noir style--focusing on the underbelly of society.  The acting is a bit hokey--but the story is interesting. Tyrone Power plays a 'natural born' con artist--who find his calling working in a carnival. He does all sorts of underhanded things to become famous--then he gets his come-up-ance. It held my attention eve though it was clear where it was going. (My grade is C+ --and might have been higher if the acting wasn't so silly in places)

Kiss of Death, 1947 (Grade C+)

Director: Henry Hathaway
Awards: nominated for Academy Awards Best Writing (Ben Hecht) and best supporting actor (Richard Widmark) --didn't win
stars: Victor Mature; Richard Widmark, Brian Donlevy, Karl Malden, Coleen Gray

sez says: Italian gangsters (pre Godfather)...go to prison rather than rat on their pals. But here the pals really are not such great guys --they 'make-it' with your wife behind your back, and don't take care of your family when you take the wrap and get locked-up to protect them.  Nick Bianco (Victor Mature) is behind bars when he discovers his wife has killed herself (because of poverty--and guild over messing around with Nick's old pal) and Nick's two daughters have thus been sent to an orphanage.  He then realizes the the gangster's code has less hold on him then does his responsibility as a father.  So he rats.  Then, conveniently, a love interest appears...and with some high drama pertaining to mob activity ...he gets to go be the dad he want's to be with a brand new wife.  But it doesn't end there.  His old life is waiting to entrap him...and you'll need to watch the movie to see what happens.  Mature proves himself to be a much better actor than I ever gave him credit for. But the real pull in this movie is Richard Widmark. He plays a sociopath and indeed, he in one sinister dude.  Not a great masterpiece but it certainly has its moments.  Grade C+