CARNIVAL STORY

US/Germany, 1954, 95 minutes, Colour.
Anne Baxter, Steve Cochran, Lyle Bettger, George Nader, Jay C. Flippen.
Directed by Kurt Neumann.

Carnival Story is a routine film about a circus on location on Austria. It also has a romantic triangle centred on Anne Baxter. Her leading men are Steve Cochran., Lyle Bettger in a more sympathetic role, George Nader.

Nothing particularly startling - probably the using up of funds in Europe during the '50s to make a feature film. Direction is by Kurt Neumann, director of small-budget features, most prominently The Fly.

1. Enjoyable circus melodrama? Romantic triangle?

2. Colour photography, European locations, the circus, the stunts and the diving? Musical score?

3. A carnival story, a carnival on tour, the workers, interactions, skills?

4. Willi: Anne Baxter as an Austrian, her watching the circus, pick-pocketing, eating, caught by Joe, given the job, cooking, the kindness of the manager? Her watching Frank and his dive, Frank's invitation, training, skills, success? His proposal, the marriage? Her infatuation with Joe? Frank and his jealousy? His death? Joe's return? The friendship with Bill, his photos? Willi freeing herself from the hold of Joe? Her future with Bill?

5. Joe, his place in the circus, friendliness, infatuation with Willi, his girlfriends? Clash with Frank? His leaving, return? Confrontation?

6. Frank, his skill in diving, from the American mid-West, helping Willi, the diving, in love, the marriage, his jealousy? Death? His bequest to her?

7. Bill, photos, friendship with Willi, in love with her, a future?

8. Giant, his helping Willi, fighting Joe? The manager of the circus and his friendship?

9. The glimpse of the circus acts? The translations into German? The crowds?

10. Conventional story, romance and triangle?