MovieChat Forums > Nightmare Alley (1947) Discussion > Ian Keith's performance as Pete

Ian Keith's performance as Pete

posted 17 years ago by mlraymond
6 replies | jump to latest

I haven't seen Ian Keith in much except for this film and every time I see it, I'm more impressed by his amazing performance. The courtly way that he announces his choice of breakfast items, when it's obvious all he plans to do is drink, his gratitude toward Stan for giving him the moonshine, his riveting moment when he seems to transform before your eyes into a dynamic and powerful figure, as he intones the mystical speech about the crystal, seeming to draw on reserves of hidden wisdom . Even cynical Stan is drawn in by Pete's somber and haunting delivery, until the moment that Pete laughs and says, " You see how easy it is to hook 'em? Stock reading, fits anyone."

This is so much more than a one note portrayal of a drunk. It's almost too bad Pete didn't get to live longer so he could have played a bigger role in the story. Among the realms of things that never happened, it is fascinating to imagine what Ian Keith would have been like as Count Dracula, since he was among the actors considered for the movie before Bela Lugosi got the part.

It would appear that Ian Keith had some unfortunate real life parallels with his character Pete, since he is supposed to have been a heavy drinker and his acting career didn't reach the heights it could have as a result. Is there anyone who knows a lot about him, including other performances?

And when he crossed the bridge, the phantoms came to meet him

[–] blanche-2 16 years ago

Ian Keith has long been one of my favorite actors, but I don't know much about him except that he was also an accomplished stage actor as well.

[–] joeparkson 16 years ago

Ian Keith plays the heavy in "Queen Christina". It's an important role in that he's somewhat of a rival with John Gilbert for Garbo's affections.

Yes, he would have made a great Dracula.

[–] glorioreo 14 years ago

Oh my gosh - Dracula for sure. I knew there was something I was picking up in his eyes but I just couldn't figure out what it was - now I know. He did indeed have a Dracula look about him.

[–] busterggi 12 years ago

Keith was hilariously on the money in a couple of Dick Tracy films as Vitamin Flintheart, one of my favorite characters from that strip.

[–] telegonus 11 years ago

Keith was a fine actor who, like the character he portrayed in Nightmare Alley, was a victim of alcoholism. Many people have commented over the years that his scenes as Pete are literally painful to watch because Keith doesn't seem to be acting. He is Pete.

A much healthier looking Keith can be seen in Raoul Walssh's 1930 western epic The Big Trail, John Wayne's first starring role, and a wonderful movie, it flopped at the box-office. Tyrone Power's father, also named Tyrone Power, plays the chief villain, and you'd never in a million years guess that these two were related, much less father and son.

My favorite Ian Keith performance is his elegant turn as Saladin in The Crusades. I haven't seen it in decades but it's his scenes that I remember best from that film. As the years went by Keith's drinking made him employable at the B level only. I'm guessing that Tyrone Power, Jr. had something to do with Keith's being cast in Nightmare Alley.

[–] greenbudgie (2358) 2 years ago

I was interested to read the OP mention that Ian Keith was considered to play 'Dracula.' I was thinking the other day how good he would have been as a monster in a horror movie. For anybody who wants to see how creepy he can be should watch 'Valley of the Zombies.' I think the studios of the time missed out by not casting him in more horror films.