SPECIAL EVENT

Carousel (1956)

The 1956 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical tells the story of Billy Bigelow, who has been dead for 15 years.

Now outside the Pearly Gates, he long waived his right to go back to Earth for a day.

But he has heard that there is a problem with his family, namely his wife Julie Bigelow (ne´e Jordan) and the child he never met, and he would now like to head back to Earth to assist.

Before he is allowed back he has to get the OK from the gatekeeper, to whom he tells his story...

Immediately attracted to each other, he and Julie met when he worked as a carousel barker.

Both stated to the other that they did not believe in love or marriage, but they did get married.

Because the shrewish carousel owner, Mrs Mullin, was attracted to Billy herself, and since she believed he was only of use as a barker if he was single to attract the young women to the carousel, she fired him.

With no other job skills and unwilling to take just any job, Billy did not provide for Julie but rather lived off Julie's Aunt Nettie.

But Billy figured he could be the breadwinner through his association with a criminal lowlife named Jigger Craigin, which led to his death.

In going back to Earth, Billy not only hopes to help his child, but tell Julie of his true feeling for her.

Stars Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones.