Nightmare Alley (1947)

 

The rise and fall of Stanton Carlisle, a mentalist whose lies and deceit prove to be his downfall.

Remarkable drama with heavy noir and goth overtones, a dislikable hero (an unusual role for Tyrone Power), good circus settings and a devastating ending.

Halliwell**: "Unusual road to ruin melodrama, a striking oddity from Hollywood at the time,, and still quite interesting and well done."

Maltin***1/2: "Morbid but fascinating story...highly original melodrama. Compelling look at carny life..." 

Quicksand (1950)

After taking 20 dollars from his employer to go on a date with plans to repay it the next day, an auto mechanic falls into increasingly disastrous circumstances for more and more money which rapidly spirals out of his control.

Doom-laden and mildly intense Noir drama with Peter Lorre stealing the show and with an ending more improbable than the twisted plot.

Maltin**1/2: "Minor film noir...Lorre is wonderfully menacing as a sleazy penny arcade owner."

Tobor the Great (1954)

A young boy-genius befriends his grandfather's robot, designed as a test pilot for space travel and coveted by foreign spies.