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 ****
Review of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
(1958)
Not at all promising as a musical--nor as a teen frolic--but Boone is quite good...
6 February 2010