Honestly, I have no idea if I'm just getting older, or if this movie caught me on the wrong day, but I had many problems with Carousel, which is surprising as a lot of movies just slide right past me. Don't get me wrong, I liked this movie, but most of the characters are just plain difficult to like. Let's start with Joel Mcrea, he plays Billy, a womanizing, lying thief and would be murderer who is always looking for the next scam. He soon picks up Shirley Jones, who despite having a comfy job and nice friends, is attracted to him for reasons that are not abundantly clear. They marry (I think) and since Billy has no job, they sort of float around, living with relatives. It turns out he also beats her, but don't worry, we find out later in the film, that she LIKES it. More despicable characters wander in and out of the film, such as Shirley Jones' best friend, who is attracted to a smelt fisherman, but is just looking for a good time as everyone else, and the owner of the carousel who used to hire Mcrea but gets all jealous at Shirley Jones and so fires Mcrea! The ending to this film I will not spoil, but let's just say no one learns their lesson, and the sons and daughters look to just to be repeating the cycle. Oh yes, the music? What was so odd about Carousel is how about 90% of the music was inappropriate for the movie. I mean, the 'Spring Is Busting Out All Over' just really puts the story on hold to have this number (albeit, it's a great number). And there's hardly any believability in the Solliquy number, as the character pauses to sing the song, and you feel that the movie is taking a turn.
But then people return to being scummy again.
But then people return to being scummy again.