Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing screen adaption, but still worthwhile
Review: Not as good as the other Rodgers and Hammerstien screen adaptions but still worth while. Brilliant scoring by Alfred Newman and wonderfully sung by the leads. Photography is often breathtaking (especially in widdescreen version). Unfortunatly there was much post production tampering. Two songs were cut ("Blow High, Low" and "Your a queer one Julie Jordan") and others shortend. Also the screenplay departed somewhat from the original stage version in an attempt to "lighten" up the subject matter. The performers do not act as well as they could sing. Jones is good, but McGrae seems to be in over his head. A stonger director could have worked wonders. Yet despite its faults, "Carousel" is still much better than many of the other "Broadway to Hollywood" transfers. Perhaps we just expected too much. Anyhow buy this in wide screen and enjoy the glorious score and visuals.
Rating: 
Summary: An R and H failure.
Review: NOT R and H material! They should have spent the whole movie at the carnival, but NOOOOOOOO!!! They spent the majority at the sea. Too lovey dovey. I expected something more brighter. I vow, I will never watch this movie again unless I have too. Oklahoma! was better and happier. In my book, R and H failed this time. Sorry.
Rating:
Summary: A Musical But Not a Comedy!
Review: Overall, an excellent movie that I would highly recommend. It really makes an emotional connection with the viewer. From the Golden Age of the Rogers & Hammerstein musicals; this one, however,is not a comedy. In fact, it is pretty much a downer-- a tragic story that stands in contrast to the sunny, optimistic tone of most musicals of the 1950's. The development of the characters is excellent. Well-produced, visually appealing, with emotionally charged music and dance sequences. I have only one complaint. Shirley Jones certainly has a great voice and lots of screen presence, but I find her unconvincing in the death scene and therafter in the story--just too sweet and smily-face for such grim, dramatic material.
I did not interpret this movie as condoning wife-beating. Billy Bigelow (played superbly by Gordon MacRae) is portrayed as a human being with the full range of human feelings, good and bad, capable of both love and anger. I think the problem with some of your reviewers is that such a portrayal does not fit in with the anti-male political corecness that is prevalent on this issue today.
Rating: 
Summary: Knockout of a Musical
Review: Richard Rogers had said that this was his favorite and we can understand why? Its themes are eternal...the integration of story snd song are truly peerless and the songs are terrific.The show stopping " If I loved you" must be seen more than once because it is the essence of what a great musical conveys to an audience. The bench scene really is what musical theater is all about. One can feel very downbeat for a while..but there is hope expressed/...before Billy Bigelow has to return back to the clouds and stars of heaven.,...knowing....and then knowing. Eternal...and directed with a loving hand!
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary score, gutsy subject matter
Review: Someone in another review mentioned that this movie contains sexist and spousal abuse issues. I think that "Carousel" was supposed to have taken place in the early 1900's when women were often treated as property and less than human. I don't think the movie glorifies that. In fact, it is critical of Billy Bigelow's abuse of his wife. Other than the controversial themes examined in this movie, I think few would argue that the score contains some of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's best work, particularly "If I Loved You" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" which are heartachingly beautiful pieces. And the "Carousel Waltz" perfectly captures the feeling and wonder of the carnival atmosphere where some of the musical is staged. This is one of the earliest Broadway musicals that dared to explore serious subjects, i.e. spousal abuse, violence within the context of a musical. That took guts!
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary score, gutsy subject matter
Review: Someone in another review mentioned that this movie contains sexist and spousal abuse issues. I think that "Carousel" was supposed to have taken place in the early 1900's when women were often treated as property and less than human. I don't think the movie glorifies that. In fact, it is critical of Billy Bigelow's abuse of his wife. Other than the controversial themes examined in this movie, I think few would argue that the score contains some of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's best work, particularly "If I Loved You" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" which are heartachingly beautiful pieces. And the "Carousel Waltz" perfectly captures the feeling and wonder of the carnival atmosphere where some of the musical is staged. This is one of the earliest Broadway musicals that dared to explore serious subjects, i.e. spousal abuse, violence within the context of a musical. That took guts!
Rating:
Summary: It was a real nice clam bake.....
Review: Taking these words and the words from all the other songs and put them together, this ends up being a Rogers & Hammerstein musical and one of the best indeed.The editorial reviewier and some of the customer reviews about spouse beating and hidden messages of life-after-death is all rubbish. We have become so critical of EVERYTHING in life and instead of just enjoying the beautiful songs, the wonderful acting and the breathtaking scenery we try to pick this film apart. Do you really think that's what Rogers & Hammerstein wanted us to do? Personally, i don't think so. Just enjoy this beautiful remastered masterpiece.As far as the sound goes and i'm speaking first hand, hearing this on a THX system is the most wonderful fullness sound your ears will ever hear. My five speakers and sub-woofer were just playing their heart out during this film. The editor gives the sound 3.5. I give it 5.0. It's perfect.I'm sure the fans of this movie will know everything that i'm saying about this film is true. If you are a first timer with this movie, providing you enjoy musicals, trust me, you will display this musical with pride and wonder why you haven't seen it before.
Rating:
Summary: Dream-like
Review: The DVD transfer is excellent , the colors and the sets are fantastic . This is a special Kind of musical , very philosophical story, actually we doesnt know if anything actually happends in "real", definately not another "oklahoma". about the music : brilliant ! the catchy "June is bustin' out all over" , and the most sentimental music you'll ever hear. the acting is very good.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than it's usually given credit for, but....
Review: The film version of what I consider Rodgers and Hammerstein's best stage production, "Carousel," has generally been dismissed by critics and those familiar with the stage show as a poor representation of the stage version. To some degree, that is true. Yes, the screenplay does "soften" it by giving away a major plot point at the beginning of the movie, so it would be easier to take. (I won't say more, in case you haven't seen it) And some of the score was deleted from the final print, which hurts it in the beginning. On stage, "If I Loved You" is dialogue with musical interludes leading up to the song itself. It is a beautiful scene, as the music is used to express emotions the characters can not speak, to thrilling effect. But on film, it's just dialogue leading up to the (shortened) song, which cuts away some of the power and impact. The spell cast on stage is not to be found here, though Gordon McRae and Shirley Jones sing well. The deleted "You're a Queer One, Julie Jordan" is also missed. But after the dissapointing beginning, "along come" the spirited rendition of "June Is Bustin' Out All Over" by the cast. From then on, the film is much more engaging and better all around. McRae and Jones, while not really up to par dramatically, are capable of emoting enough and remain vocally stellar, which is what we paid for, anyway, (though it shouldn't have been that way). McRae's "Soliloquy" is a true tour de force, and his reprise of "If I Loved You" is truly poigniant. Jones' "What's the Use of Won'drin" is beautiful and touching. The rest of the cast is fine, too, and certain of the later scenes retain the power of the stage version and are just as touching. Unfortunatly, I haven't seen this in widescreen or on the big screen, so I can't vouch for the much-lauded visual scope of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, but I'm sure it's spectacular. (Nope, it's not all that exciting in pan-and-scan) This is worth seeing, especially, I'm sure, in widescreen, but what you really should do is get the film's soundtrack, which restores the deleted songs and many of the deleted verses of other songs to better effect, and a decent cast recording of the stage version, and see a good stage production in your area. Only then will you truly experience the beauty and power of this magnificent musical.
Rating:
Summary: Better than it's usually given credit for, but....
Review: The film version of what I consider Rodgers and Hammerstein's best stage production, "Carousel," has generally been dismissed by critics and those familiar with the stage show as a poor representation of the stage version. To some degree, that is true. Yes, the screenplay does "soften" it by giving away a major plot point at the beginning of the movie, so it would be easier to take. (I won't say more, in case you haven't seen it) And some of the score was deleted from the final print, which hurts it in the beginning. On stage, "If I Loved You" is dialogue with musical interludes leading up to the song itself. It is a beautiful scene, as the music is used to express emotions the characters can not speak, to thrilling effect. But on film, it's just dialogue leading up to the (shortened) song, which cuts away some of the power and impact. The spell cast on stage is not to be found here, though Gordon McRae and Shirley Jones sing well. The deleted "You're a Queer One, Julie Jordan" is also missed. But after the dissapointing beginning, "along come" the spirited rendition of "June Is Bustin' Out All Over" by the cast. From then on, the film is much more engaging and better all around. McRae and Jones, while not really up to par dramatically, are capable of emoting enough and remain vocally stellar, which is what we paid for, anyway, (though it shouldn't have been that way). McRae's "Soliloquy" is a true tour de force, and his reprise of "If I Loved You" is truly poigniant. Jones' "What's the Use of Won'drin" is beautiful and touching. The rest of the cast is fine, too, and certain of the later scenes retain the power of the stage version and are just as touching. Unfortunatly, I haven't seen this in widescreen or on the big screen, so I can't vouch for the much-lauded visual scope of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, but I'm sure it's spectacular. (Nope, it's not all that exciting in pan-and-scan) This is worth seeing, especially, I'm sure, in widescreen, but what you really should do is get the film's soundtrack, which restores the deleted songs and many of the deleted verses of other songs to better effect, and a decent cast recording of the stage version, and see a good stage production in your area. Only then will you truly experience the beauty and power of this magnificent musical.
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