Movies - Nightmare alley : (Re)Discover the film in its black & white version at Max Linder in Paris

By Mulder, 25 january 2022

For two weeks, from Wednesday January 26th to Tuesday February 8th, the Max Linder cinema will offer its spectators the possibility to discover Guillermo del Toro's first film noir not only in its color version, available in theaters since last Wednesday, but also in black and white, with two screenings per day for each version.

Adapted from the novel by William Lindsay Gresham by Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan, Nightmare alley stars Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen and David Strathairn.

"Even though we shot Nightmare Alley in color, cinematographer Dan Laustsen and I proceeded as if it were a black-and-white film," the director explains. "Today, we want to offer audiences a version that evokes the classic film noir films that this feature is based on."

"I've been extraordinarily fortunate to be able to tell this incredible story in a rich, colorful version and then in this beautiful black and white," adds Dan Laustsen, "It's extremely satisfying artistically. My dream has somehow come true. When we were preparing the film, as well as during the shoot, we were thinking in terms of both color and black and white. The technique I used is a tribute to all the great cinematographers who inspired me."

Nightmare alley tells the story of how, while going through a rough patch, charismatic Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) arrives at a traveling fair and manages to get into the good graces of a psychic, Zeena (Toni Collette) and her husband Pete (David Strathairn), a former mentalist glory. He learns from them and sees this as a way to get his ticket to success. He decides to use his newfound talents to con the elite of New York society in the 1940s. With the virtuous and loyal Molly (Rooney Mara) by his side, Stanton begins to hatch a plan to swindle a powerful and dangerous man (Richard Jenkins). He receives help from a mysterious psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who may well prove to be his most formidable adversary...

In addition to Dan Laustsen, the film's credits include set designer Tamara Deverell, costume designer Luis Sequeira, editor Cameron McLaughlin, and composer Nathan Johnson, and is produced by Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Bradley Cooper.

Black and White Screening Times:
Wednesday, January 26, Friday, January 28: at 2:50 pm and 8:50 pm
Thursday, January 27, Saturday, January 29, Monday, January 31, Tuesday, February 1: at 12:00 and 17:50
Sunday, January 30 at 2:30 pm and 8:30 pm

Synopsis:
While going through a bad patch, the charismatic Stanton Carlisle arrives at a travelling fair and manages to get into the good graces of a psychic, Zeena and her husband Pete, a former glory of mentalism. He learns from them and sees this as a way to get his ticket to success. He decides to use his new talents to con the elite of New York society in the 1940s. With the virtuous and loyal Molly by his side, Stanton begins to hatch a plan to swindle a powerful and dangerous man. He receives help from a mysterious psychiatrist who may prove to be his most formidable adversary...

Nightmare Alley
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Screenplay by Guillermo del Toro, Kim Morgan
Based on Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham
Produced by J. Miles Dale, Guillermo del Toro, Bradley Cooper
Starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman
Mary Steenburgen, David Strathairn
Cinematography : Dan Laustsen
Edited by Cam McLauchlin
Music by Nathan Johnson
Production companies : Searchlight Pictures, TSG Entertainment, Double Dare You Productions
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 
Release dates : December 1, 2021 (Alice Tully Hall), December 17, 2021 (United States)
Running time : 150 minutes