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Carousel

Play trailer Poster for Carousel 1956,  2h 8m,  Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 63% 8 Reviews Tomatometer 60% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Based on the lauded Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical, this film follows the romance of Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae), a charming carousel barker, and Julie Jordan (Shirley Jones), a pretty worker from a nearby mill. When the attractive young couple gets married, they also both find themselves unemployed, which puts a strain on their relationship. When Billy finds out that Julie is pregnant, he resorts to extreme measures to get money, a decision that leads to tragedy.
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Critics Reviews

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Mar 22, 2026
2/4
It frequently plays like a dour version of It’s a Wonderful Life. Go to Full Review
Arlene Croce Film Culture Mar 28, 2022
Two performances ring true -- those of Claramae Turner and Robert Rounesville. But at best, it is an unimaginative Carousel that we have been given, resembling on the whole nothing so much as an open-air amateur production. Go to Full Review
Don Willmott Filmcritic.com Aug 30, 2008
4/5
The fact that Carousel is Rogers and Hammerstein's least accessible and darkest musical is what makes it so compelling Go to Full Review
Walter Chaw Film Freak Central Feb 8, 2007
2/4
Carousel on screen is something less, alas. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 26, 2005
3/5
Daniel M. Kimmel Worcester Telegram & Gazette Feb 8, 2004
4/5
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Audience Reviews

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Feb 1, 2019 The best inspiring musical romance movie ever made! With 3 of the best movie songs ever sung: If I Loved You, June Is Busting Out All Over, and You'll Never Walk Alone! See more
Hermione W May 13, 2017 Two stars is generous for this piece of crap. I'll just dive right in. Billy Bigelow reminds me of an angry, white Trump supporter, of which I am not. He's a dick for the entire film until Julie says she's pregnant with his child. That finally gets him to believe, but then his life is cut short because he's an idiot and falls on his own knife. When he finally gets the chance to make amends with his widow and daughter, his daughter gets tortured and harassed by bullies for a too long time before he steps in. Within a minute of speaking to her, he slaps her hand. All in all, he gives too little too late. Something else that really pissed me off was how uneven the tone is. It's a dark musical, no doubt, but it wants you to forget that it's dark by putting in somewhat upbeat numbers, like the song about June, you'll never walk alone and Louise's ballet. However, it's always in the back of your mind that it's dark. Not to mention that Louise's ballet ends with her sobbing. There's a big difference between having a dark and visionary ballet and having a dark and visionary ballet for the excuse of being dark and for tears to flow. The ballet in Oklahoma is much more worthwhile than what you get from carousel. This movie is simply an excuse to have a dark musical. While it's no doubt a handful of the songs and dances are wonderful, you really can't take your mind off how dark it is and how it unevenly tries to be so many things at once. I guess the only truly dark musical we can trust is Sweeney Todd. (Les mis doesn't count, it's uplifting throughout) See more
Albus S Jan 8, 2017 7.5 out of 10: Despite a generic story and meh songs, Carousel makes up with great dancing, acting, and singing.
Hagrid R Jan 8, 2017 The loveliest of all the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals was transferred to the screen via gorgeous on-location cinematography and a faithful adaptation which manages to keep most of the score intact along with "Louise's Ballet." See more
Anakin L Feb 22, 2010 An odd and somewhat dark story for a musical that I didn't care for. The music is bland and all of the songs seem to blend together. (First and only full viewing - 4/18/2010) See more
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Carousel

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Movie Info

Synopsis Based on the lauded Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical, this film follows the romance of Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae), a charming carousel barker, and Julie Jordan (Shirley Jones), a pretty worker from a nearby mill. When the attractive young couple gets married, they also both find themselves unemployed, which puts a strain on their relationship. When Billy finds out that Julie is pregnant, he resorts to extreme measures to get money, a decision that leads to tragedy.
Director
Henry King
Producer
Henry Ephron
Screenwriter
Phoebe Ephron, Henry Ephron
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 16, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 15, 2013
Runtime
2h 8m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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