Some people say the great actor is not the one that delivers a line, but the one that listens to one.

And the same is true for a director, I believe.

Hello, and welcome back to the director's cut, brought to you by the Directors Guild of America.

In today's episode, a charismatic con band goes after a dangerous mark and director Guillermo del Toro's neo-noir psychological thriller, Nightmare Alley.

Set in 1940s, New York, the film weaves the tale of a down-on-his-luck hustler,

who teams up with a clairvoyant and her mentalist husband to scam the wealthy.

With the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist, he sets his eyes on a bigger target,

a dangerous tycoon who might be his most formidable opponent yet.

In addition to Nightmare Alley, Mr. Del Toro's directorial credits include the features,

Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, the pilot for the series The Strain,

and the DGA Award-winning film, The Shape of Water.

Following a recent screening of the film at the DGA Theater in New York,

Mr. Deltoro shares insight into the making of Nightmare Alley

with fellow director Tim Blake Nelson.

Listen on for their spoiler-filled conversation.

Let's start with a general question.

This is a noir.

Yes.

And I'd love for you to speak about that.

And also to do so in the context of when you first decided you wanted to make this movie,

which I know was a while ago, and then why now?

All right. Well, the thing is noir, first of all, even at its origins,

...