Carnival Rock
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Roger Corman
Susan Cabot
Brian Hutton
David J. Stewart
Dick Miller
Iris Adrian
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Fifty-year-old Christy Christakos operates a run-down nightclub, currently featuring rock `n' roll acts, as part of his ocean pier carnival. Christy is hopelessly infatuated with the much younger Natalie Cook, whom he has promoted from waitress to the club's star singer. Ben, Christy's assistant and friend, tries to convince him that he must pay more attention to his business because a principal creditor, Kirsh, is demanding repayment of a loan and is threatening to attach Christy's property. Christy, an eternal optimist, is so besotted by Natalie that he can think of nothing else but his desire for her. However, the feeling is far from mutual and although Natalie is grateful to Christy, she regards him as an old man and is secretly involved with Stanley, a young gambler who is interested in buying Christy's club in order to better promote her career. Celia, whom Natalie replaced as the club's singer, sees Natalie and Stanley together and informs Christy. Christy then begins drinking, but still insists upon pursuing Natalie, hoping to win her with an expensive ring, although he is unable to pay his debts or his employees. When Kirsh and his lawyer, Cannon, come to the carnival, demanding their money, Stanley overhears them and realizes that he must move quickly to gain control of the club. Stanley then involves Christy in a legitimate card game in which Christy bets all his property and loses. After Stanley tells Christy to pack his belongings and leave, Natalie pleads with Stanley to give Christy a job. When Celia points out that a clown is leaving the carnival, Christy, a former baggy-pants burlesque comic, is offered the job. Ben tries to persuade a sobbing Christy not to accept, but Christy, still bewitched by Natalie, accepts in order to be near her. One night, after Stanley has refurbished the club as a better showcase for Natalie and has instituted a policy of name rock 'n' roll acts as guest artists, he tells Ben that he plans to marry Natalie later that evening and then fires the ineffectual Christy. When Natalie returns to her dressing room from performing onstage, she finds Christy, in full clown makeup, waiting for her. Pathetically, Christy pleads with Natalie to leave Stanley, but she tells him that, although she never wanted to hurt him, she is in love with Stanley. As he leaves, Christy threatens that she will never marry Stanley. While Ben tries to persuade Christy to join him in working at a cousin's television station in Buffalo, Max, Stanley's assistant, arrives with Christy's final paycheck, orders him to leave immediately, then reveals that Natalie and Stanley are marrying that night. Christy agrees to join Ben in Buffalo, but as Natalie leaves the club to meet Stanley, Christy attempts to kidnap her and sets fire to the club. Stanley spots the fire, slugs Christy and rescues Natalie, then returns to save Christy. Later, after Ben thanks Stanley for refusing to press charges against Christy, he and Christy leave the carnival for a new beginning.
Director
Roger Corman
Cast
Susan Cabot
Brian Hutton
David J. Stewart
Dick Miller
Iris Adrian
Jonathan Haze
Ed Nelson
Bruno Ve Sota
Chris Alcaide
Frankie Ray
Dorothy Neumann
Horace Logan
Yvonne Peattie
The Platters
David Houston
Bob Luman And His Shadows
The Blockbusters
Gary Hunley
Clara Andressa
Terry Blake
Crew
Mickey J. Addy
Curly Batson
Jack Bohrer
Roger Corman
Marjorie Corso
Floyd Crosby
Bob Davie
Chuck Duncan
Charles Grean
Walter Greene
Charles Gross Jr.
Robert Kinoshita
Madison Lacy
Leo Lieberman
Bill Martin
Marvin J. Moore
Donna Norridge
Lou Place
Bob Post
Buck Ram
Buck Ram
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The television program from which Carnival Rock was adapted starred Oscar Homolka, Debra Paget and Peter Graves and was directed by Jack Smight. The various musical acts credited in the opening cast list appear in the film as performers in "Christy Christakos'" nightclub. The popular group The Platters sing "Remember When."
According to Hollywood Reporter news items, Ruth Scott, Bob Luman, Bill Chaney and Leonora Lee were to be in the cast, but their appearance in the released film has not been verified. Carnival Rock was released as part of a double bill with Teen Age Thunder (see below) and played throughout the U.S. before reaching Los Angeles in August 1959.
