The MoFo Top 100 Film Noir Countdown

I thoroughly enjoyed the majority of this film. It drew me in quickly, and was very captivating to watch. Tyrone Power was very charming, which definitely aided the believability of his mentalism performances. His intuitive mind reading tricks were a lot of fun to watch. I'm not entirely sure what happened, but towards the end I just suddenly lost touch with the film. The first two thirds were very enchanting, but the final act, where things tend to get rather intriguing in film noirs, did not enthral me in the least.

As such, I was not on board with the film when it started to bring up religious superstitions, and its heavy handed warnings about the dangers of ambition. I typically enjoy stories that have a cyclical nature to them, but I found the ending of Nightmare Alley to be far too predictable and uninteresting. It's really strange because I loved a lot of the film, and being completely disconnected during the last half hour or so made me feel very bitter. I wish I could point to something in particular, but my enjoyment of the film simply ceased, and I don't know why.

Even when I was uninterested during the finale, the film was still very beautifully shot. The cinematography, sets, and costumes were all very well done and helped sell the atmosphere. Given the stellar performances and visual appeal of the film, I'm surprised that Nightmare Alley doesn't seem to be that well known. Despite not caring for the film's ending, I thought it was a great film and am glad I had the opportunity to watch it.

With a camera that lingers on smoke filling a dimly lit room, or mist slowly spreading through darkened woods, Murder, My Sweet is a film that certainly embraces the “noir” aspect of the genre. The daytime scenes take place almost exclusively indoors, limiting the amount of time anyone is exposed to the sunlight. Its characters are the type who flourish in the darkness, so the shadows and ample use of contrast set the perfect tone for the events that follow.

That's not to say that the film is all grit and cynicism though, since it does have a lighter streak that often shines through. Despite his weary exterior, Marlowe has plenty of witty, snappy dialogue and amusing quips at the ready. Dick Powell is great in this role, especially considering that his background was in musicals and romantic comedies. I'm sure many people will prefer Humphrey Bogart's take on the character from the Big Sleep, but I've personally always had a fondness for Powell's performance here.

As our lead character is pulled ever deeper into the central mystery, the plot does begin to feel a little chaotic. However, before things can spiral out of control, the loose threads start to weave back together, and the narrative ultimately concludes in a satisfying manner. Over the years, many of the elements found in this film have become stereotypes of the genre, but Murder, My Sweet is still an excellent example of why those tropes became popular in the first place.