Is Carnival Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1935)

📖 The Core Premise

Carnival returns to the screen in 1935, bringing a fresh narrative to the Romance, Comedy genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. ""Chick" Thompson is a puppet-master in a traveling carnival whose wife dies in childbirth and leaves him with an infant son he names "Poochy." His father-in-law and the baby's grandfather sues him for custody of the baby and Chick takes his son and hides out for a couple of years. He joins his former assistants, Daisy and "Fingers", in a circus act only to find that the persistent grandfather is still on his trail."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Carnival, even the presence of Lee Tracy struggles to save a script that feels disjointed. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Romance. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Carnival worth your time? If you appreciate Romance, Comedy films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Carnival misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 77 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.