There was some great talent here but not all of it is fully utilised. Texas Carnival has great moments but other ways it was underwhelming as well. Texas Carnival has some lavish Technicolor and colourful sets and costumes, so visually it's pleasing, and the incidental score is lovely. Texas Carnival does have some memorable scenes, standing out in particular were the imaginative dream water sequence, Skelton's hilariously nutty drunk routine, Ann Miller's dance with the xylophone in It's Dynamite and the riotous slapstick finale that has some very impressive stunt-work. Of the performers, the one who comes off best is Red Skelton, who is just fine and very funny while Ann Miller is sassy and dances a dream in It's Dynamite. Esther Williams is beautiful and pert and does wonderfully in the water sequence but for a film that was intended to be a vehicle for her this was not really great use of her talents. On the other side of the coin, Keenan Wynn is annoying and badly underplays the comedy at the same time and Howard Keel is wasted, he sings with such richness and beauty and he is a handsome presence but he deserved more songs and better ones too. The songs were pleasant but forgettable also, the most memorable being Deep in the Heart of Texas. The script was in serious need of sharper wit and the story is tired in concept and rambling in pace. The film is much too short as well and feels incomplete, with a feeling that a lot of the film was left on the cutting room floor. If that was the case that means we would most likely have seen more of Williams and Keel as we ought to have done. The ending is rushed and with little sense of surprise and Charles Walters' direction is sadly lethargic. All in all, has good moments but a very odd film that does waste some of the talent it has. 5/10 Bethany Cox
Review of Texas Carnival
