Varieties on Parade (1951) User Reviews

Filmed acts and nothing else

[dbborroughs · 4/10 · 12 October 2008]

Dispensing with any pretense of plot (the film begins with a POV camera as we go to the box office and are given a ticket) this is a 54 minute film of variety acts. Singers, dancers magicians, jugglers, girls on bikes and many other acts take the screen in what is little more than a day at a vaudeville house, or would have been 80 years ago. Perhaps a better description would be the Ed Sullivan show sans commercials. Is it bad? not really its more uneven then anything else since enjoyment will depend on what you think of any particular act. My interest went up and down since it is a mixed bag. Having seen it once its not the thing you'll probably watch twice (however it should be pointed out that the VCI DVD release of the film has a commentary track on it where the commentators talk about the film's acts. Clicking on to the track during one of the moments that didn't require listening to what was going on I quickly realized that the commentary adds greatly to the enjoyment of the film, so I will be watching it again with commentary in the near future)

For those that like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like.

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 16 March 2023]

Can't crack a smile at corny comedy, animal acts, jugglers, baton twirlers and bicycle acrobats, or feel sorry for the person who's the rear in the horse costume? This then is not the sort of film for you, and for me, outside a jazzy upbeat musical score in the background, a complete groaned. Even Jackie Coogan, Uncle Fester of "The Addams Family" and one time silent child star, gets the reaction of seeing me with my mouth agape in one point, and stern and irritated in others. This is a compilation of a variety of mediocre acts for the most part, straight out of burlesque and vaudeville, made all the worse by the probable loud applause track, and the irritating hosting and act intro of Eddie Garr who is pleasant in the most irritating way.

B movie actors Tom Neal, Lyle Talbot and Iris Adrian really come off desperate in this, obviously wondering how their careers came down to this. The musical numbers rank from painful to just plain dull, and overall, it seems like the subject of discussion between TV host Ed Sullivan and his staff to avoid emulating. I love dated vaudeville acts when they're entertaining or campy, but the whole ordeal is an hour long nightmare with hangover attached. Constant canned obnoxious laughter further destroys any chance of this being decent.

good variety in Varieties on Parade

[froberts73 · 8/10 · 20 February 2011]

No this ain't not no MGM musical. Big names do not abound. Colors are black and white. Plot? They don't even try for one unless you count the four minutes or so where ushers and other somewhat pretty types look you in the camera, take you to your seat and tell you they hope you will enjoy the show.

And, you will. There are variety acts after variety acts and, with one or two exceptions, all of them are thoroughly enjoyable.

I will not bring up the obvious - you know - mentioning Ed Sullivan. At any rate it's fun to sit for an hour in awe and wonderment - those are two towns in Arkansas - and enjoy the entertainment without a plethora of annoying commercials. Gotta pee? Hurry. This fun flick moves without letup.

It's another VCI - very cool individuals - presentation that is rated G - for - well - great.