Mardi Gras

During the '50s music scene, Pat Boone had much success early in his career covering many songs originally written and recorded by black artists-in fact, many of them he recorded were at the time more successful than the originals but nowadays, his versions are considered more inferior. His ballads are more tolerable to listen to since many of those were written for him. He was a contrast to Elvis Presley which made both men very successful singers and movie stars during this period. While Presley at the time played variations of the Rebel, Boone played Clean-Cut, Goody-Two-Shoes like here as a military school cadet. Both had their own appeal and Boone's in full supply in this, only his third movie. He's not the only singer here, though, as Bing Crosby's son Gary is also in this as well as Tommy Sands. They go to New Orleans to meet a movie star of French roots, here played by Christine Carere. Other lovely ladies in this one are dancer Barrie Chase-who also was performing with Fred Astaire on TV during this period, and Sheree North, initially a possible replacement for Marilyn Monroe before 20th Century-Fox dropped her after the studio put her in this. It's interesting that Sands both filmed this movie in a state he partially grew up in-he was raised as a child in Shreveport-and also sang of the glory of Texas-since he grew up as a teen in Houston. He also had a brief reunion with Fred Clark-who had previously played his agent in the TV play "The Singin' Idol"-during a scene at the hotel. Clark here plays the publicity man for Carere. This was quite an enjoyable musical comedy-romance. It was the last time for director Edmond Goulding before his death. It was also the last time for Charles Gemora dressing like a gorilla on film as he does here in the actual Mardi Gras parade filmed at New Orleans which is only a couple of hours drive from my current hometown of Baton Rouge. In summary, Mardi Gras is worth a look. Oh, and this was Richard (Dick) Sargent's second appearance in a Pat Boone movie, having previously teamed with him in Boone's debut, Bernardine.

Studious cadet at a military academy wins the student raffle to travel down to New Orleans at Mardi Gras time to hopefully meet a popular starlet from Hollywood. Despite an original story by Curtis Harrington (!) and the Oscar-nominated musical direction from Lionel Newman, "Mardi Gras" seems cramped and uninspired. Pat Boone does some good work in the lead, but his blandly 'charming' cohorts are hardly appealing: Gary Crosby shamelessly pokes fun at father Bing, while Tommy Sands seems to disintegrate after his early solo and Richard (Dick) Sargent stands around with his arms folded. The early scenes at the academy work best (think "Taps" with music), however these characters are not worth following and their adventures do not reap big returns. *1/2 from ****

This movie has had me on the hunt for years, and it seems to have vanished off the radar. As far as I can tell, it has never been recorded, either on VHS or DVD. I don't understand why.

It's not a great movie, but better than many that are more available. I'd love to have a good copy.

I saw the movie in the theater when it was first released, and for some reason never forgot it. It has always been a fond childhood memory.

The cast is young and fresh - Pat Boone in the first flush of his success, Tommy Sands at the beginning of a career that had a short life, and Gary Crosby, eerily channeling his father Bing - and they seem to be giving it their all.

The "girls" - the lovely Christine Carriere, the enormously talented Barrie Chase, and a peppy Sheree North - match the boys step for step.

The result is a pleasant romp through the world of 50's musicals.

Sure, the plot is ridiculous, but who really cares? Relax and have fun.

BTW, although the movie was filmed on the lot for the most part, there is some very interesting vintage stock footage of the New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration and parade.

This is one of the many teen-oriented comedy films of the mid-1950s along with movies like ''Gidget'' or ''Bernardine'' (with Pat Boone).

''Mardi Gras'' is set in a military school with some cadets that try to win a date with the queen of the Mardi Gras parade, and Pat Boone's character wins it. So he and his fellow buddies follow him to Hollywood and attend the parade. But the studio wants to capitalize the parade queen's affair with the cadet for having some publicity.

There are some nice songs, few sang by Pat Boone, like ''Bourbon Street Blues'', ''Bigger than Texas'' and ''I'll Remember Tonight''.

This was Edmund Goulding's last directorial effort, and there is a nice cast of fresh juvenile actors of those years, like Gary Crosby (Bing's son) and Tommy Sands as Boone's sidekicks. Also Dick Sargent (here billed Richard) as a fellow cadet and in one of his first movies, dancer Barrie Chase, who has a dancing moment in the movie, Sheree North in her last 20th Century Fox movie, and French movie star Christine Carere in one of her few movies made in America.

It's not a great movie, but who cares? It's great fun for all ages!

The story begins at Virginia Military Academy, where the students are apparently chosen based on singing ability, as Pat Boone, Tommy Sands and Gary Crosby are all singing friends. Their other friend is Dick Sargent...and his singing appears to be someone else actually doing the singing. I wasn't surprised by Boone or Sands...they are famous for their singing. But Gary Crosby is quite good and sounds a LOT like his famous father.

As for the plot, the VMI marching band has been invited to a Mardi Gras parade and Barry, Tony and Dick (Crosby, Sands and Sargent) come up with a money-making scheme...to arrange for a date with a famous French actress, Michelle Marton (Christine Carère) with whoever wins the raffle...which is Paul (Boone). And, would you believe it, Michelle and Paul eventually fall in love and the studio want to play this up for publicity purposes.

The songs are all very pleasant and peppy. However, none are all that memorable. This is made worse by having a few too many songs as well. Trimming a few and perhaps getting one or two blockbuster tunes might have made the musical aspect of the movie work. Overall, I think the bests things going for the movie is the location shoot in New Orleans as well as Boone, who comes off pretty well in the story. Nothing especially life-changing or amazing, but a pretty decent time-passer.