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Alias Nick Beal is a 1949 American film noir mystery starring Ray Milland, Audrey Totter and Thomas Mitchell (although third-billed, Mitchell plays the leading role). Directed by John Farrow, it is a retelling of the Faust myth,^[1] and is also known as Dark Circle, Strange Temptation and Alias Nicky Beal.

Plot

Joseph Foster is an honest district attorney who wants to clean up the criminal underworld, but cannot catch their leader, Frankie Faulkner, no matter how hard he tries. After a foiled attempt to obtain critical evidence to convict an underling of Faulkner's named Hanson, Foster is left reeling.

In exasperation at another frustrated attempt, he cries out that he would sell his soul to put Faulkner behind bars. At that moment he receives an invitation to meet with a smooth talking stranger named Nick Beal at a seedy bar beside the docks. With Beal's aid he gets evidence to convict Faulkner's cohort Hanson.

Foster is encouraged by a circle of powerful admirers to run for governor. He accepts, with Beal acting as a Mr. Fixit, despite the uneasiness of his wife Martha and his good friend Reverend Garfield. Foster begins his rise to power in the company of Donna Allen, a fallen woman who is sent by Nick to entice him. Foster gets elected but resigns, sickened by the compromises he has made at Beal's instigation, forfeiting his soul. As he is preparing to leave with Beal for the Island of Lost Souls, his wife and Garfield arrive and are able to thwart Foster’s promise to Beal to accompany him. Beal then disappears into the foggy darkness from whence he came.

Cast

Ray Milland as Nick Beal
Audrey Totter as Donna Allen
Thomas Mitchell as Joseph Foster
George Macready as Reverend Thomas Garfield
Fred Clark as Frankie Faulkner
Geraldine Wall as Martha Foster
Henry O'Neill as Judge Ben Hobbs
Darryl Hickman as Larry Price
Nestor Paiva as Karl
King Donovan as Peter Wolfe
Charles Evans as Paul Norton
Douglas Spencer as Henry T. Finch
Ernö Verebes as Mr. Cox
Arlene Jenkins as Aileen
Pepito Pérez as poster man
Joey Ray as Tommy Ray

Reception

A 1949 review of the film in The New York Times held that, "Due to the fine acting and the wily direction, the story plays exceptionally well, but the script tends to be somewhat wobbly and indecisive upon reflection."^[2]

A contemporary review by Film4 contended "Milland is outstanding as the personification of evil—a talent often obscured by his charm and early juvenile good looks."^[3]

Home media

Kino Lorber released a region A Blu-ray edition of the film through their Kino Lorber Studio Classics label on July 13, 2021.^[4]

References

^ Hedges, Ines (2009). Framing Faust: Twentieth-Century Cultural Struggles. SIU Press. pp. 159–160. ISBN 9780809386536. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
^ P, T. M. (10 March 1949). "Movie Review - Morality Drama at the Paramount - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
^ "Alias Nick Beal Review". Film4.
^ "Alias Nick Beal".

External links

Alias Nick Beal at the TCM Movie Database
Alias Nick Beal at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Alias Nick Beal at IMDb
Alias Nick Beal at Letterboxd
Alias Nick Beal at AllMovie

[1] Hedges, Ines (2009). Framing Faust: Twentieth-Century Cultural Struggles. SIU Press. pp. 159–160. ISBN 9780809386536. Retrieved 11 July 2017.

[2] P, T. M. (10 March 1949). "Movie Review - Morality Drama at the Paramount - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 August 2017.

[3] "Alias Nick Beal Review". Film4.

[4] "Alias Nick Beal".

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