2h 8min | Drama, Fantasy, Musical | 16 February 1956 | Color, WS
Director: Henry King
Stars: Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones, Cameron Mitchell, Barbara Ruick, Gene Lockhart, Susan Luckey, Jacques d'Amboise.
Rod Alexander ... choreographer
Agnes de Mille ... choreographer: Louise's ballet derived from the original by (as Agnes De Mille)
Possibly Richard Rodgers' most beautiful music, and probably the darkest themed R&H story (which came from a Hungarian tale, filmed 4 times prior, but not as musicals), containing the theme of prejudice between classes.
2 amazing dance numbers satisfy those cravings: June is Bustin' Out, and Louise's Ballet. Both last a long time and are colorful. June has a lot of athleticism and creative use of the restaurant and pier. The ballet is just that, and JD shines as a soloist, as well as graceful teamster to SL.
SJ sits with a historian for the commentary track, and they mention that modern audiences were aghast at the statement in the play that yes, when you love a man, he can hit you loud enough to make a big noise and it won't hurt at all. And that was a '94 performance in NYC. Just think what outrage #MeToo should bring.
Also in the commentary track: discussion of how the film might be different had Frank Sinatra not walked off the project (outwardly because he refused to "film 2 movies, he's only paid for 1", but privately, years later, rumor is that wife Ava Gardner threatened to have an affair with Clark Gable on location in Africa. Well, none of the sources propagating that tripe bothered to check the timeline: AG was in Africa with CG a few YEARS before Carousel was filmed in '55. However, she was filming in Pakistan with Stewart Granger near that time.) SJ & the historian(?) dismissed Sinatra's ability to play anything but the tough guy aspect, but he had certainly been vulnerable in the past, so I don't buy it. Yes, the film would be different, but I think it would be richer and deeper.
The historian on the c.track claims that all of the prerecording Sinatra did still existed (when he was speaking), except Soliloquy. I would love to hear them.
The singing is lovely, and this is probably GM's best performance that I've seen so far, but I'm still not his fan. My high rating is for the music, the dancing and the color.
Fox, dir. King; 8+
