Reviews

Yes, that's what I said. TEXAS CARNIVAL is one big technicolor mess of a film musical. This film must have been made just to keep its contract players busy while on the MGM payroll. There is very little that is redeeming about this film. The script is unconvincing. Esther Williams has no aquatic numbers. And Red Skelton gets on my last nerve with his silly vaudeville type gags that went out with the silent films. On the positive side, Howard Keel is around for a few tunes. Ann Miller of course is around for two flashy tap numbers. Other than that, 1951 movie audiences probably had a more entertaining time at the popcorn counter.

Young Kurt Johnson, who stars in Sole Survivor 1984, died shortly after the film's release. Rather creepy. I was an acquaintance of Kurt's. He was only 33 at the time of his death.

I saw the film on VHS tape wondering what to expect as I knew that this was Eleanor Powell's final starring role. Well, I found the film to be quite different than Miss Powell's usual MGM offerings. I liked that fact the Eleanor played quite a different character than the ones she played at Metro. Her dance number with David Lichine also showed Eleanor in a completely different light...very jazzy. The movie at times has a very surrealistic quality especially the scenes depicting Times Square with the big bands playing on the rooftops. I thoroughly enjoyed the film with its very campy and surrealistic elements combined with Miss Powell's very creative numbers, especially when she dances inside a hug pinball machines. My only criticism is that a few of the numbers may have gone on a tad too long.

It is obvious that MGM was starting to give up on Eleanor Powell. Though Miss Powell gets star billing as per her contract, she hardly impinges on the dialogue at all. Miss Powell is relegated to two brilliant dance numbers (a third number was cut to make way for a very dull song by Ann Southern) The movie is generally very dull and slow moving. The movie might have improved if Miss Powell had been given more to do as the movie only really comes to life when Miss Powell appears.

I was 11 and 12 years old when Shindig was on the air. I had many euphoric moments watching Shindig. For example, I remember sitting in front of the television with my family as I waited with breathless anticipation to see for the first time what the Supremes looked like. The Supremes had had already three #1 hits in a row and I was dying to see what they looked like. I was not disappointed. I also dug Hullabaloo, a slightly different version of Shindig but in color. I liked both Hullabaloo and Shindig. It was these two shows that allowed me to see what my favorite artists looked like. There was no Internet, no computer, not MTV, no DVD, no VHS, just these two shows and a couple of other minor knockoffs that gave me such pleasure in the dull world of the San Fernando Valley.