Carousel [DVD]

THis musical is a must due to it's lyrical music.

LOVE LOVE THIS DVD

From the downbeat, "Carousel" was spellbinding and more beautiful than I could have anticipated. The orchestral accompaniment was luscious. Julie (Shirley Jones) expressed her undying adoration for Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae) in her melodious soprano voice, and Gordon MacRae reciprocated in his matchless baritone musicality. The two worked very well together in a performance that was part fantasy, part morality tale, and part old-fashioned man-woman love story. The supporting cast was peerless and as musically exquisite as the two principal stars.If you like dancing, expect to be overwhelmed and deliriously charmed by the choreography and execution by some of the most gifted, athletically proficient dancers ever. Topping the ensemble toward the movie's end in a fantasy ballet is Jacques D'Amboise, (deceased 2021), retired lead of the New York City Ballet, exhibiting skills that approach those of Nureyev and Baryshnikov, with some impressive "hang-time" reminiscent of Michael Jordan when he was a Chicago Bulls superstar.The story line in Carousel has been criticized for its focus on domestic battery and its seeming acceptability when Julie defends Billy's use of physical punishment when she annoyed him. It must be remembered that the culture has changed dramatically in the many years since the story line for "Carousel" was adapted by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. This is not to excuse the total unacceptability of hitting and beating anyone; it simply reflects the old being superseded by the new. It should not spoil anyone's enjoyment of the wonderful music, lyrics, dancing, and camera work and photography that is heart-stopping.I would like to commend and compliment the distributor, 5-Star Media, for its service and reliability in delivering a high-quality set of gently used DVD's that function as if they were out-of-the-box brand new, and most important, will function in the United States. And, as always, my thanks to Amazon's customer service staff for facilitating the exchange of unworkable discs that were manufactured for use only in European applications. This was a total win-win experience for me.

Love young Shirley Jones movies but this one was kind of so-so . Pretty scenery though.

Good movie. I think Everyone else told what It Is about, My favorite part Is where the 2 teams of Dancers are competing against each Other, They get a smoking. I would like to see this movie on Blu-Ray though there are around 30 movies that I would like on Blu-Ray some are Not yet available on Blu-Ray yet as Mary Poppins, Song Of Norway, April In Paris, Hello Dolly, April Love, and some other movies. I usually buy movies used on VHS or DVD save much money buying used. If Its a black & white or a cartoon then I will buy It on VHS If Its a very good movie I will buy It on DVD but If Its a classic I buy It on Blu-Ray but I think Blu-Ray Is over priced after all when People bought DVD They though They were buying the best Not knowing They were being lied to by these corporations trying to sell them a new copy that has been compressed or should I say stripped. In the 1970's & 80' & 90's a large screen CRT was 25 Inch and People did Not complain about the picture quality If They got a good reception & the vertical hold was Not off but People want a television with good color and the old CRT which People I read on web still wish made which has a brighter clearer more colorful picture than these newer plasma and LCD televisions and now they are trying to get Us for more money coming out with LED television. People have asked Is It worth buying Blu-Ray If have standard television? Absolutely, I just said movies on DVD were compressed or should I say stripped so You will notice a difference. I have watched this movie on both standard CRT television and My Computer LCD wide screen monitor, the standard CRT looks better but It cuts some of the picture off but the wide screen more of the picture Is visible and I Am Not just saying that, this Is a true wide screen movie shot on 70 mm film Not a compressed or chopped off picture to look like wide screen.

One of my favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals.Compelling story with wonderful music.

I confess that I didn't like the opening sequences of this film as much as I did in other Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicals. The beginning of Carousal is kind of awkward because it uses background music to show the moment in which the major characters, Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan, fall in love with each other at first sight at the carousel. It is a very slow beginning when compared to the other R&H films. Yet, once it starts, it is quite a beautiful musical. Not only the songs are beautiful, but also the ballets that appear, June is Bustin' All Over Ballet and Louise's Ballet, and the songs that are sung with a chorus, Blow High, Blow Low; A Real Nice Clambake; Stonecutters Cut It on Stone; What's the Use of Wond'rin'; You'll Never Walk Alone. The ballets and the choruses are things that I personally enjoy very much in a film. The film's restoration is also a great job and helps appreciate the film's quality.There is also a second disc with special features and an earlier French film based on the same story, titled Lilliom. Although one has to watch this film with French subtitles, it is quite interesting to watch. So, I think this is a great buy for musicals lovers.

The special features are priceless and include Fritz Lang's masterpiece titled Liliom. The commentary by Shirley Jones and Nick Redmon, regarding all the actors and Rodgers and Hammerstein should remindus of what a great gift the play and movie is. I am pretty sure that this remastered DVD of Carousel is in Cinemascope 55. I was a 17-year-old usher at the theatre showing Carousel in 1956 and did not have the chance to watch the film, so this is the first time I watched the entire movie without interruption. I grew up listening to 78 rpm records with the Broadway songs from Carousel as well as Oklahoma. Thanks to all.

Carousel is my favourite film of all time. I thought Gordon MacRae had such a wonderful voice when I saw this film back then in 1956 when I was a boy. I found I loved the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein as well. There have been many stories about why Frank Sinatra walked away from this picture and was replaced by Gordon but the most convincing one for me, which I only recently found, is in Carousel's producer, Henry Ephron's autobiography 'We Though We Could Do Anything' where he says that Frank had a lot of doubts about the movie. He tried six times to record the 'Soliloquy' number and kept blowing it, so gave up. He was in a bad mood generally as he didn't like working on location and thought Shirley Jones might be too tall for him. He also says Darryl Zanuck sent him a telegram saying Rodgers and Hammerstein didn't want him in the picture. The story about not being paid for making two pictures, one in 55mm and one in 35mm is true, but that never happened anyway as MacRae said in a later interview, they just put the two cameras side by side. Gordon's again teamed with the beautiful Shirley Jones as he was in Oklahoma. Shirley had a wonderfully attractive soprano voice and she's always said that this is her favourite musical ever and used the songs in her act throughout the years. Richard Rodgers also said it was the best work he ever did and loved to listen to it himself, even though he wrote it. Filmed on the coast of New England in Maine Harbour, it's simply beautiful and very moving to watch and to listen to.

I bought this for the music, and realised I did not know most of the songs. I thought the story line was poor,and the acting not very good.

Not a great lover of musicals but have to admit I was 'blown away' by Carousel. Everything about it was fun. The choreography was amazing, the dancing fantastic. I have watched it a number of times now and still enjoy it. The songs are also very memorable which has to be the sign of a good musical. Just love it.

Okay, this is a film that I remembered from years ago that I thought I loved. The transfer and production of the discs are excellent, without doubt, but the film is a bit of a dog. I expected to be corny and over acted as is Oklahoma, and it was. I guess I don't really know what I was expecting, but this will not be one of those films I want to see on impulse. To each their own, but I wasn't thrilled.

Carousel is another fine film, in colour, from Rodgers and Hammerstein following their success with 'Oklahoma'. Gordon MacCrae as the fairgound barker is one of the stars and his co-star is the lovely Shirley Jones.A wonderful musical with an intriguing story which will keep you enthralled. Amongst the delightful songs are "If I Loved You", "People Will Say We're In Love", "You'll Never Walk Alone" and one which parents, particularly, will appreciate -- "When The Children Are Asleep We'll Sit And Dream".Although first seen in 1956, almost half a century ago, I believe it will be appreciated just as much in another 50 years.It is a romantic story, spanning Heaven and Earth, but, as in life,there is a sad sequence which may bring a tear or two to your eyes. To say anymore would spoil your pleasure. So,just settle down in your armchair and enjoy.