Barbara Ruick, Cameron Mitchell, Claramae Turner

A spirit in heaven gets a singular opportunity to revisit his past life on earth to help his young daughter reconcile his death and move on with her own life.

Flixster Users

63% liked it

7,744 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 128 min.

Directed by: Henry King

Release Date: February 16, 1956

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DVD Release Date: April 27, 1999

Stats: 341 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (341)


  • August 21, 2007
    Totally cheesy and silly. It was really dumb. And there were several neverending song and dance numbers...they just went on forever. I thought the State Fair songs were silly but these were even worse. At one point they were having a clam bake on an island and that had just s...( read more)ung about how awesome the month of June is before the scene. They were sitting there and a character asked them all if they had a good time and they broke into another song starting with "we had a real nice clam bake..." So 3/4 of the movie was about the man and the events going up towards his death interspersed with scenes of him in purgatory trying to argue his case and go down to his daughter. He was on earth for like 2 seconds in the movie and he tried to talk to his daughter and ended up hitting her. They let him have more time and go see her graduate and the way he saved the day was to whisper "believe it" in her ear while she was singing a song.
  • May 18, 2006
    If I loved you

    Time and again I would try to say

    All I'd want you to know.

    If I loved you

    Words wouldn't come in an easy way

    Round in circles I'd go.

    Longin' to tell you, but afraid and shy

    I'd let my golden chances pass me by.

    Soon you'd le...( read more)ave me

    Off you would go in the mist of day

    Never, never to know

    How I loved you . . .

    If I loved you.



    One of the greatest love songs to come out of musical theater. Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones: A Hollywood musical match made in heaven. I wonder if Jones might have broken a few hearts in high school . . .



    Carousel's story is different from most Hollywood musicals in several ways, the most significant of which is that true love is won right at the beginning, then is tragically squandered by Billy Bigelow, although not ultimately lost. Besides such memorable numbers as the "Carousel Waltz" theme itself and "You'll Never Walk Alone"--the ultiimate graduation song--, one of my all-time favorites is "When (the) Children Are Asleep," the beautiful duet, shared by Carrie and Mr. Snow on the way to the clambake, in which they dream of their married future together:


    When the children are asleep we'll sit and dream

    The things that every other dad and mother dream.

    When the children are asleep and lights are low

    If I still love you the way I love you today

    You'll pardon my sayin' I told you so.

    When the children are asleep, I'll dream with you.

    We'll think what fun we have had and be glad that it all came true.

  • November 2, 2009
    A Film that promotes abuse
  • August 28, 2009
    This movie contains everything I hate about these types of musicals. It is was over sentimental, unnaturally colorful, it's overblown with phony art direction and wooden performances. Even the songs aren't that great. It's just too much of everything.
  • July 29, 2009
    different...but i wasnt crazy about it
  • July 28, 2009
    Great musical but talk about your soapy, sobby chick flick! Contains the inimitable "You'll Never Walk Alone", every guy's favorite slow song. Specially if he watches English football.
  • April 1, 2009
    a sweet love story of a carousel worker and his girl. Sadly he gets killed but he keeps looking out for her once in heaven and realizes that his daughter is a lot like him. The music is beautiful
  • March 21, 2009
    it is ok for this kind of movie. if i died and had a chance to come back to earth, to help my child...or whomever...i'd like to think i could.
  • February 11, 2009
    So, so sad but beautiful with great songs and amazing voices
  • January 25, 2009
    Weird movie, the only bit I liked was the ending

Critic Reviews


Comments


  • charleneroberts709
    June 13, 2007
    i love the film and so sweet when Billy Biglow dies and hes got a loving wife and daughter.

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Carousel : Watch Free on TV


Carousel Trivia


  • in "Face/Off", who shot Mikey Archer on the carousel?  Answer »
  • Which Film By Tim Burton Have Jack Skellingtons Head On The Top Of A Carousel?   Answer »
  • What musical contains the famous songs: "June is Bustin out all over" and "You'll never Walk alone" (Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that is being remade- work is currently in progress)   Answer »
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