Note: American Film Classic Reviews uses a star rating with 10 being the highest.
Read what other viewers have written about this movie.
8 stars ~
"Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round" (UA, 1934) made its AMC premiere on February 2, 2000. This is pure thirties entertainment featuring several forgotten names of the past. The story set on an ocean liner with passengers including a jewel thief (Gene Raymond), an actress (Nancy Carroll), some loansharks and a man (Ralph Morgan) out to murder his unfaithful wife (Shirley Grey) by being a stowaway in a lifeboat, etc. Murder does occur which causes an inspector (Robert Elliott) to take time from his vacation to gather up all the suspects. In between all, radio comedian Jack Benny and Nancy Carroll do a spoof of MGM's "Grand Hotel", Mitzi Green impersonates George Arliss, the Boswell Sisters sing "Rock and Roll" many years before that term was used for 1950s music; and there are production numbers, with one biggie, "It Was Sweet of You" done in Busby Berkeley-fashion, overhead camera shows, geometric figures, choreographed by Larry Ceballos and Sammy Lee, etc. Patsy Kelly does some clowning and Sydney Howard plays the passenger drunk. And if one wants to see a Nancy Carroll movie, this is possibly the only one of hers in circulation today. What a shame, cause she was a big name in her day. She at times reminds me of a very young Sylvia Sidney here. This movie was once available on video cassette through Video Late Show in 1987.
reviewed by gary
7 stars ~
Good. A musical with a plot. A bit long but enjoyable, especially when Jack Benny is concerned.
reviewed by linda ingram
* * *
7 stars ~
Enjoyable old-fashioned musical comedy that could only be made and enjoyed in 1934. I'll call it a GRAND HOTEL movie set aboard ship with an all-star cast of now forgotten actors, except for Jack Benny, who will forever remain as one of my top radio and TV personalities. Nancy Carroll is so cute, it's a shame her career was in a down-slide by the time this movie was released. Keep finding these hard-to-find movies and airing them. They are worthy treasures.
reviewed by Peggy Barrett
* * *
8 stars~
Yes, I agree, such a cute movie. So unlike the realism and gore we have to deal with today. Keep these sweet oldies coming and maybe our younsters will learn to love them too.
reviewed by Rita
* * *
9 stars ~
this was a wonderful and charming movie, and I hope you'll play it again.
reviewed by Movie Fan
* * *
7 stars ~
Dated, but has its charms--partly because its dated. Gene Raymond made a number of typical comedies of the '30's that are quite good--particularly "Love on a Bet", "Cross Country", and a few with Ann Sothern. He's also fine with Stanwyck in "The Bride Walks Out". He belongs to a signature group of comedy leading men of that period--the snappy wisecracking pursuer.
reviewed by Ted Fontenot (dtedfontenot@worldnet.att.net)
* * *
8 stars
"Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round" (UA, 1934) premiered on AMC February 2, 2000. Welcome aboard. This is pure 30s entertainment featuring several forgotten names from the past. The story is set on an ocean liner with passengers including a jewel thief (Gene Raymond), an actress (Nancy Carroll), some loansharks, and a man (Ralph Morgan) out to murder his unfaithful wife (Shirley Grey) by becoming a stowaway in a lifeboat, etc. Murder does occur which causes a vacationing inspector (Robert Elliott) to take time out to round up the usual suspects. In between it all, radio comedian Jack Benny does a spoof of MGM's 1932 hit, "Grand Hotel" with Nancy Carroll; Mitzi Green impersonates George Arliss; the Boswell Sisters sing "Rock and Roll", decades before that term went into fashion with 1950s music; and there are production numbers, with one biggie, "It Was Sweet of You" done in Busby Berkeley fashion, overhead camera shots by Larry Ceballos and Sammy Lee. Patsy Kelly does some clowning and Sydney Howard plays the drunken passenger. And if one wants to see a Nancy Carroll movie, this is possibly the only one of hers in circulation today. What a shame, cause she was a big name in her day. She sometimes reminds me of a very young Sylvia Sidney. This movie was once available on video cassette through Video Late Show in 1987. (Given a **1/2 star rating by the NY Daily News).
reviewed by Gary Lugonian
* * *
Delight Evans of Screenland: " A good show, and entertaining, is this combination of murder mystery, vaudeville numbers and romance taking place aboard an ocean liner. It's rather elaborate, with dance scenes, songs, and some pretty fair comedy. Jack Benny is master of ceremonies, but Gene Raymond and Nancy Carroll as the romantic interest take first place in importance. "
Modern Screen : " With a cast loaded with star names and a plot into which everything from a musical to a murder mystery has been crowded, this picture remains just so-so entertainment. All the action takes place on a transatlantic liner which is a good spot for committing a murder, and also for bringing in plenty of musical entertainment. Along the latter line, the talents of Jack Benny, the Boswell Sisters, Jimmy Grier's orchestra are presented, plus Mitzi Green doing a George Arliss imitation. Gene Raymond and Nancy Carroll provide the love interest and do it mighty well. But inspite of all that, this picture doesn't jell."