Nightmare Alley (1947)

James Flavin: Hoatley

Photos 

Quotes 

• Hoatley : Nice work, kid. You kept your head. You're a real carny, no mistake.

  Molly : You ought to have heard Stan spout the gospel to that old hypocrite. It was like being in Sunday school.

  Zeena Krumbein : You must have been raised pretty religious.

  Stanton Carlisle : Yeah, in a county orphanage.

  Molly : Didn't you have any folks?

  Stanton Carlisle : If I did, they weren't much interested.

  Zeena Krumbein : Where'd you learn all this gospel?

  Stanton Carlisle : In the orphanage. That's what they used to give us on Sunday after beating us black-and-blue all week. Then when I ran away, they threw me in the reform school. But that's where I got wise to myself. I let the chaplain save me, and got a parole in no time. Boy, how I went for salvation! Comes in kind of handy when you're in a jam.

• Hoatley : Now this creature - There he is, THE GEEK! He has puzzled the foremost scientists of Europe and America. Is he the missing link? Is he man or beast? Some have pronounced him man. But beneath that shaggy mane of hair lies the brain of a beast.

• Stanton Carlisle : How do you get a guy to be a geek? Is that the only one? I mean, is a guy born that way?

  Hoatley : Let me tell you something, kid. When you've been around this carny a little longer, you'll learn to quit asking questions.

• Stanton Carlisle : Now you can see the reason, Marshal, for the costume this young lady is forced to wear. The electricity would ignite any ordinary fabric. And only by wearing the thinnest covering can she avoid bursting into flames.

  Hoatley : That's right, Chief. Thousands of volts of current cover her body like a sheet.

  Rural Marshal : You can't pull the wool over my eyes with a lot of sparks. I've done business with you carnival crooks before. Get that geek in here. You can talk to the judge.

• Hoatley : Kind of a surprise to see you hanging around that act, young man.

  Stanton Carlisle : Why?

  Hoatley : Hasn't got a skirt in it.

• Hoatley : Hello, Chief. My name is Hoatley. I own this attraction.

  Rural Marshal : You're the man I'm looking for.

  Hoatley : You're welcome to inspect every inch of the place, Chief. We've no girl shows, no games of skill or chance.

• Rural Marshal : I've got orders from the mayor to close you down and arrest who I see fit. Send somebody for that geek fella.

  Rural Marshal : [pointing to Molly]  I'm taking him and you and that girl there.

  Hoatley : What for?

  Rural Marshal : Indecent exposure. That's what I'm arresting her for.

  Hoatley : She didn't do anything wrong.

  Rural Marshal : We've decent women in this town, daughters and growing girls.

• [first lines] 

  Hoatley : Hey, lookie, lookie, lookie.! This way for the monster! Right through here! Step right this way, folks! The show is about to begin!