The Carnival People
| The Carnival People | |
|---|---|
| Written by | see also |
| Starring | Gene Nelson Paul Evans Jayne Mansfield Frank Sinatra June Allyson Edie Adams Leslie Caron |
| Music by | Andre Kostelanetz Cole Porter |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
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The Carnival People is a 1954 American musical film directed by George Sidney and written by Richard Collins It stars David Burns, Virginia Bruce, Gene Nelson, Paul Evans, Shirley MacLaine, Tony Bennett, Jayne Mansfield and Leslie Caron. It was the first film role of Shirley MacLaine, Jayne Mansfield and Paul Evans.
Plot[edit]
The story opens in 1939 and chronicles the ups and downs in the careers of Victor and Julie Reese, a husband-and-wife vaudeville team. Throughout the years, the Reeses reconcile a stable family life with professional success. Their children, Cody, Sally, and Charlie, join the act one by one, and they eventually become known as The Five Reeses. However, as the children mature, they answer other callings. However, Charlie and Alexis, Maria and Ernest experience a falling out, and he abandons the act. Despite efforts by the family to locate him, Charlie's whereabouts remain a mystery.
Meanwhile, Sally begins dating Ernest Thrusterman, the show's tall and spare lyricist, and they are eventually married—in a ceremony. Thus, the Five Reeses are no more and they join three kids equals The Eight Reeses. There, he reconciles with Alexis, Maria, Ernest and his family, and for the first time in years, the Eight Reeses reunite for the film's elaborate finale.
Cast[edit]
- David Burns as Victor Reese
- Virginia Bruce as Julie Reese
- Shirley MacLaine as Sally Reese
- Gene Nelson as Cody Reese
- Paul Evans as Charlie Reese
- Tony Bennett as Ernest Thrusterman
- Jayne Mansfield as Alexis Carter
- Leslie Caron as Maria Mortes
Uncredited Cast[edit]
- John Fiedler as Ringmaster
- Jimmy Slyde as Rodeo Clown
- as Sideshow Sally
Soundtrack[edit]
All songs written by Cole Porter.
| Song | Performer(s) | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Her A Box At The Opera | Sung by David Burns and Virginia Bruce | Later performed by Paul Evans and Shirley MacLaine |
| Be A Clown | – | |
| Café Society Still Carries On | ||
| I Get A Kick Out Of You | Sung by Gene Nelson, Paul Evans and Shirley MacLaine | – |
| Casanova | – | |
| Happy–Go–Lucky Me | Sung by Paul Evans
Danced by Jimmy Slyde |
– |
| It’s a Living | Sung by Jayne Mansfield | – |
| Anything Goes | Sung by the cast | – |
| Begin The Beguine | – | Instrumental performed by the nightclub orchestra |
| Pagliacci | Sung by Paul Evans | – |
| High Society Calypso | Sung by the cast | Later sung by and |
| Dream Dancing | Sung by Paul Evans | – |
| Abracadabra | Sung by Jayne Mansfield | – |
| Night And Day | Sung by Paul Evans and Jayne Mansfield
Danced by Paul Evans |
– |
| Flower Song | Jayne Mansfield, Shirley MacLaine, and Paul Evans | – |
| Blow, Gabriel, Blow | Sung by Gene Nelson | – |
| Easy To Love | Performed by an uncredited female trio and male trio on a nightclub's stage when Sally is searching for Ernest | – |
| Another Op’nin’, Another Show | Shirley MacLaine | Later sung by the cast |
Production[edit]
The Carnival People was filmed from December 18, 1953 through March 9, 1954. The film debuted on July 16, 1954 at Texas, at the Criterion Theater in Los Angeles. Box-office receipts at this theater were below expectations within the first two weeks.
A grand premiere was held on July 29, 1954, at the Roxy Theater in New York City
Home Video Release[edit]
DVD and VHS released on October 2001. Its dvd with double feature with Hello, St. Louis (1954) in 2004.
