Carnival Rock

Carnival Rock (1957)

** (out of 4)

Christy Cristakos (David J. Stewart) runs a hip nightclub, which features a lot of rock and roll talent including the beautiful Natalie Cook (Susan Cabot) who Christy has a thing for. The only problem is that she has the hots for Stanley (Brian Hutton), a younger and more hip guy. Soon Christy loses his club to Stanley and this sets him off down a dangerous path.

Roger Corman's CARNIVAL ROCK is not a good movie but it's hard not to recommend it because of how strange it is. At first the film starts off in a rather good, fun mood and then, pretty much out of nowhere, it turns into a dark and overly bleak film with an incredibly strange character taking us through all of it.

From the title, the poster and the set-up this here just appears to be another one of those rock and roll films from the 1950s where you saw cool people dancing and rocking out. The story itself is pretty basic as the less attractive guy wants the hot girl but she's into the hotter guy. This all changes because the Christy character's mental state is a complete mess and it turns into some sort of dark stalker tale.

What's so strange is the fact that the lead performance and character are just downright bizarre to say the least. I'm really not sure if Stewart is really awful in the picture or really great. Remember how some people think Jack Nicholson in THE SHINING is terrific whereas others feel he's over-acting? Well, the same is true here. I really don't know what to make of Stewart's performance but it's really out there and bizarre to say the least. Both Cabot and Hutton are decent in their roles but it's actually Dick Miller who steals the picture with a very good supporting performance.

CARNIVAL ROCK was obviously cheaply produced and the rock music in it is rather weak. There's certainly nothing really good about this film but at the same time it's lead character is just so weird and the story takes such a dark turn out of nowhere that you can't help but recommend it.

There's melodrama and songs aplenty in this Roger Corman number from the late 50's. Set in a carnival, the misguided lovesick owner falls in love with his (much younger) star singer, but she's not too interested and bunks off with a smooth gambler instead. It all ends in tears.

This one stars Corman regular, the Wasp Woman herself, Susan Cabot. And she is as good value as ever as the girl who all the drama pivots around. And she even gets to sing a couple of songs. She's not the only one either, as Corman has wisely decided to punctuate the melodramatics with a selection of tunes performed onstage in the club - we have rockabilly numbers, some doo-wop action from special guests The Platters and the title song sung over the end credits by The Blockbusters (who?). And the result is a great deal of fun, with the added bonus of having bit-part legend Dick Miller featuring in an actual proper sized part for once as the daft club owner's best friend.

Good Music! Good entertainment. Solid little B-picture of a man named Christy whose love for the wrong girl causes him nothing but trouble and heartbreak. Shows how cruel love can be and what it can drive a man to do. Good wholesome entertainment plus it's got Dick Miller which is always a plus!

When a carnival club owner falls in love with his star attraction, he finds it difficult to accept her disinterest in him as well as her interest in a gambling suitor. But what is he willing to do to win her love, and will it be worth the gamble?

Fair acting, story, & suspense. The highlights are some great rockabilly performances & the lovely Susan Cabot.

'Carnival Rock' is different from usual Corman movies than most of us have used to. This is melodrama padded with many musical numbers. David J. Stewart stars as out of luck club owner Christy Cristakos, a naive and disillusioned in his blind love against the club's star singer Natalie Cook (Susan Cabot) who has hots for gambler and business man Stanley (Brian G. Hutton). Christy's club, although with great musical numbers, is still in debts, and when he finally learns the woman he loves can't pay back with mutual feelings, the man loses his club to Stanley in a card game.

In it's entirety the film is nothing special - not enough quality neither enough cheese. Although the script is quite strong (for Corman's movie) it flows along very familiar path without offering any surprises. Generic melodramatic love triangle and generic rockabilly songs. Nonetheless 'Carnival Rock' is still entertaining and engaging enough that sitting through the film is everything but suffering.

It is easy to pass this film, but if you are really interested in versatility of Roger Corman, then 'Carnival Rock' is recommended by here writer.