tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post2798216462218098977..comments2024-03-22T07:00:25.081-07:00Comments on The Rap Sheet: The Book You Have to Read: “Nightmare Alley,” by William Lindsay GreshamJ. Kingston Piercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17073921191624535912noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-36012560940369774672009-11-24T04:12:04.159-08:002009-11-24T04:12:04.159-08:00I'm sorry Kelli, I'm just realizing that ...I'm sorry Kelli, I'm just realizing that in my previous post your first name has been left out (or perhaps it has been canceled by mistake) leaving only your surname. I don't know how it would be possible. I bag your pardon!<br />Waiting for an answer from you, and from everyone has some considerable informations for me about Gresham,<br />thanks in advance!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04071124451885869908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-31354947296007050342009-11-23T22:40:23.906-08:002009-11-23T22:40:23.906-08:00Hi Stanley and everybody.
I'm an italian write...Hi Stanley and everybody.<br />I'm an italian writer, keened on Gresham's works and life. I’m actually working on the essay about by this author, that will be joined to the Italian translation of “Nigthmare Alley”. According to me Gresham’s literary production is worthy to be read more than it is. Do you agree with me? Unfortunately he is quite unknown in Italy and it’s very difficult for me to find out significant informations, indispensable materials for someone who is intentioned to spread the name and the work of Gresham, like I am. So, I'm wondering wether you could help me finding out useful documents for my work. Of course, it'll be a pleasure form me to send you a copy of my book, when published, with special thanks to you for your contribution to my research.<br />Best regards.<br />SimoneUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04071124451885869908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-32769924159731715272009-11-15T09:01:48.663-08:002009-11-15T09:01:48.663-08:00Thanks, Max--I'm adding MURDER HE SAYS to a TC...Thanks, Max--I'm adding MURDER HE SAYS to a TCM search right now, and hopefully will be able to catch it there. I love strange noir hybrids--like JUKE GIRL, with Ann Sheridan and Ronald Reagan as a unionizing farmer (!).<br /><br />And I agree, Helen was very much short-changed in the star lottery. For those who don't know the story, she was on the brink of major stardom, but her career was cut short by a serious car accident in '46, when she picked up three hitchhiking veterans on New Year's Eve. She suffered major injuries, and one of the hitchhikers was killed. The public blamed her for the death--one of the survivors claimed she was drunk--and the bad press was more than she could overcome. She smartly switched to cold, hard roles in noirs like IMPACT, but her career gradually petered out as she aged. Tragically, she died at 47 of cancer.Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-73629427384822770852009-11-15T07:37:34.005-08:002009-11-15T07:37:34.005-08:00Great book, great movie.
Helen Walker should have...Great book, great movie.<br /><br />Helen Walker should have been a much bigger star. She is particularly good in the hillbilly noir comedy, MURDER SHE SAYS, with Fred MacMurray.<br /><br />I don't know if NIGHTMARE ALLEY is forgoten exactly -- a lot of people consider it one of the classic hardboiled novels, and it spawned one of the most memorable film adapations -- but I'm glad to see it given this attention. Underground cartoonist Spain did a graphic novel version a couple of years ago, worth looking at.Max Allan Collinshttp://www.maxallancollins.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-27411466446852233752009-11-14T21:42:37.571-08:002009-11-14T21:42:37.571-08:00I finally tracked this one down after reading a fe...I finally tracked this one down after reading a fervent recommendation in the old "Murder Can Be Fun" 'zine (in the dark days before the Web made finding books so much easier). It definitely packs a major punch. I thought the movie lightened the tone a little, but I may have been biased by my admiration for the novel.Penhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15891811829251049068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-31642528319780353862009-11-14T10:10:22.204-08:002009-11-14T10:10:22.204-08:00Thanks so much for the recommendations, Steve! I w...Thanks so much for the recommendations, Steve! I will add all of these titles to my list! <br /><br />And I think it's about time I re-read Ray Bradbury's <i>Something Wicked This Way Comes</i>--another great work with a carnival theme.<br /><br />KelliKelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-12789712124950517092009-11-13T20:24:26.707-08:002009-11-13T20:24:26.707-08:00Kelli, I also loved both the book and the movie. ...Kelli, I also loved both the book and the movie. I think the film is incredibly dark and cynical for the time it was made. I didn't know anything about Gresham's (too short) life<br /><br />As Dick Adler said, Fredric Brown wrote a lot about carnivals. <i>Dead Ringer</i> is a sequel to <i>The Fabulous Clipjoint</i>. It's not as good, but a larger part of it is set in a carnival. <i>Madball</i> is, in my opinion, one of Brown's best books; it takes place almost entirely in a carnival.<br /><br />I also remember really liking a book called <i>Step Right Up</i> by Daniel P. Mannix. It's about his time working in a carnival. I haven't read it for, I'd guess, forty-five years, so I have no idea how it holds up.SteveHLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01745665231586422220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-82828588603327981002009-11-13T17:26:13.649-08:002009-11-13T17:26:13.649-08:00Ms. Grey was as energetic, bubbly and effervescent...Ms. Grey was as energetic, bubbly and effervescent as she was on screen ... one of those ageless and lovely people who truly enjoys life! She spent personal time with everyone who came up to meet her, and was genuinely touched to be so fondly remembered. <br /><br />I remember she said one of her favorites of her own films is Kansas City Confidential--another fine noir, as is The Killing, in which she also co-starred. And she also appears in Red River .... so there are a number of her performances available on DVD, luckily for us. :)<br /><br />If you're ever in San Francisco in January, Noir City is the festival to see ... last year, Arlene Dahl was the guest (another very lovely lady).<br /><br />KelliKelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-52903852077685454022009-11-13T17:18:32.195-08:002009-11-13T17:18:32.195-08:00You know, I often wonder if Tom Cruise would be ab...You know, I often wonder if Tom Cruise would be able to handle the role, should the film be remade. Tyrone Power was known more for his boyishly handsome leading man looks, but really tried to stretch himself as an actor with this ... and succeeded, too.<br /><br />Would be interesting, at the very least. :) Thanks, Mike!<br /><br />KelliKelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-37915294124249852402009-11-13T15:05:01.423-08:002009-11-13T15:05:01.423-08:00It would be interesting to meet Colleen Grey now. ...It would be interesting to meet Colleen Grey now. She was sure a stunner then, and my favorite part of the movie.Evan Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07620731784654779358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-25906490697024812302009-11-13T14:50:31.535-08:002009-11-13T14:50:31.535-08:00"Nightmare Alley" shows one of the darke..."Nightmare Alley" shows one of the darkest sides of the human condition. It is a well-constructed film, with high-powered acting and world-class lighting.<br /><br />I heard Tyrone Power fought for this role,since the studio was reluctant to let him have it.<br /><br />And it gives new meaning to the word "Geek", in the same way as Michael Madsen transformed the way I listen to "Stuck In The Middle With You".Mike Dennishttp://mikedennisnoir.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-50605696416773783602009-11-13T13:36:42.698-08:002009-11-13T13:36:42.698-08:00You'll enjoy the book, Evan, I promise! :) I w...You'll enjoy the book, Evan, I promise! :) I was lucky enough to see the film for the first time on the big screen (one of Eddie Muller's Noir City festivals a few years ago), and also had a chance to meet Colleen Grey, who was the guest of honor. I'm sure it made a difference in my initial impression ... plus, I'm highly susceptible to carnival themes.<br />I know what you mean about the ending, though ... and Helen Walker, whew, what a character she played! <br /><br />BTW--I love the fedora! :)Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-24025328909203039562009-11-13T13:07:13.607-08:002009-11-13T13:07:13.607-08:00Saw the flick recently for the first time, and whi...Saw the flick recently for the first time, and while I didn't love it as much as you, Kelli, it had some powerful scenes. You're right, it was good to see Tyrone Power in something other than a Biblical epic. But not having read the book, I didn't know where the story was supposed to end, and thought it had reached an appropriate ending at least twice before it finally geeked out. And there was no alley. Still, I'll now have to hunt down the book.Evan Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07620731784654779358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-81066861820923816402009-11-13T12:10:59.552-08:002009-11-13T12:10:59.552-08:00I'm immediately adding THE FABULOUS CLIP JOINT...I'm immediately adding THE FABULOUS CLIP JOINT to my "must have" list--thanks, Dick!<br /><br />And wow--a close encounter with poor Gresham. So tragic when an author lives the noir he wrote ...<br /><br />KelliKelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-6424155661502692072009-11-13T10:16:19.141-08:002009-11-13T10:16:19.141-08:00Have you read any of Fredric Brown's great car...Have you read any of Fredric Brown's great carny books, beginning with THE FABULOUS CLIP JOINT? I think you'll love them.<br /><br />I once met Gresham in his home in New Rochelle, N.Y., which he said was "45 Minutes From Broadway," echoing the old song. He was a sad figure by this time, and had a closet full of paperback copies of NIGHTMARE ALLEY. Wish I still had the one he signed to me, but it was lost in a move...Dick Adler (aka Ivan Davis)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14354558537841003933noreply@blogger.com