Mardi Gras

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!

A traditional musical made at 20th just as traditional musicals were dying, and supposedly infused with vigor by casting it with several young heartthrobs: Pat Boone, Tommy Sands, Gary Crosby, Dick Sargent. But it's pretty tired. The first half-hour is an unexciting display of military academy life, with our four cadets marching, kidding each other, and affirming their good-natured camaraderie. Then they hit the Mardi Gras, where they're raffling off to their fellow cadets a date with movie star Christine Carrere. Pat wins, and their love affair is troubled by you're-a-movie-star-I'm-a-cadet, and her manager, Fred Clark, and his secretary, Sheree North, contribute supposedly witty sayings. Sheree proves, again, she should have been a much bigger star--she's pretty, she can sing and dance, and she's a natural comedienne--and there's also a comely Barrie Chase in a supporting part. The Sammy Fain-Paul Francis Webster score is miles below what they wrote for "Calamity Jane," and the wholesomeness-mixed-with-1950s-salaciousness may give you whiplash. A couple of nice numbers, though, and it's the last movie directed by Edmund Goulding, who made some great ones. Worth a look, then, but expect to be underwhelmed.

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.

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 is great for young girls. it is definitly not a guy movie. It has a lot of morals in it, which may not meet with the new generation today. it is fun to watch and good music. Great to watch during the mardi gras celebration time in new orleans. nice clean movie.