Laissez Les Bon "Films" Rouler
Since an event the magnitude of Mardi Gras is no stranger to Hollywood, there have been a number of films that have been set, or even filmed, in the great city of New Orleans during these fascinating festivities.
Alongside destinations such as New York, Paris, and Rome, our culture shines throughout the globe, and one of the city's hallmarks is its annual Mardi Gras celebration. One of the truly special things about living in New Orleans is taking part in its undeniable stature as a "city of the world," and there have been a number of films that have been set, or even filmed, in the great city of New Orleans during this fascinating festivity over the years. We have curated some of the most interesting of these for your viewing pleasure. And don't worry, every selection is available to watch, free of charge, in the comfort of your homes. So grab some popcorn and soda—or even crack open an adult beverage in honor of Mardi Gras—and enjoy these curios from the annals of filmdom.
Dixiana (1930)
Set in Antebellum New Orleans, the greatest comedy team that you've likely never heard of, (Bert) Wheeler and (Robert) Woolsey, portray wisecracking circus performers who try to pass for "Southern gentlemen" when they're invited to a plantation for the weekend. As Peewee and Ginger are focused on trying to make a quick buck, their partner Dixiana (silent star Bebe Daniels) becomes the ultimate source of friction between her aristocrat beau and a powerful gambler who crowns her "Queen of the Mardi Gras." From the first year of full-fledged "talkies," the climactic, 20-minute Mardi Gras sequence was filmed in beautiful Technicolor—a full nine years before The Wizard of Oz famously switched from black and white to color. And don't miss the film debut of trailblazing screen legend Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. You can stream this on Tubi.
King of the Mardi Gras (1935)
Who says that one of the most iconic cartoon characters in history can't get in on the fun? Obviously no one, since it's Carnival time at what has to be an animated representation of the late, great Pontchartrain Beach. Here, Popeye and Bluto battle it out from their competing sideshow stages to the famous rollercoaster, and you just know that a can of spinach is going to make an appearance. A personal favorite from the repertoire of the legendary Fleischer Brothers, you can watch this short on Dailymotion.
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)
Arguably the greatest comedy duo in film history, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello mistake New Orleans at Mardi Gras for the planet Mars—nobody said they were bright—before they wind up on Venus with a bevy of beauties. One alien planet is as good as another. The '50s were a great time for perceived space exploration. Bud and Lou managed to beat out the Three Stooges, who didn't follow their lead until 1959's Have Rocket, Will Travel, which was coincidentally released just five months after the death of Lou Costello. Featuring the film debut of a pint-size Harry Shearer (This is Spinal Tap), you can watch this film on YouTube.
Mardi Gras (1958)
Did you ever dream of going to a military school? Maybe not. However, you probably have dreamed of schmoozing with your favorite star. In this comedy, Mr. White Shoes himself, Pat Boone (who, at 90, is still going strong and is even hosting a weekly show on SiriusXM), wins a raffle that his fellow army cadets concocted to not only go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras but also dance with beautiful French starlet Christine Carère. Of course, his scheming pals Barry (Tommy Sands), Tony (Gary Crosby), and Dick (Dick Sargent) accompany him on this journey so they can each find romance in the Crescent City. One of the best scenes takes place in a Bourbon Street burlesque club, where an attractive bookworm just so happens to blossom into the house dancer named Torchy. 1958 was quite the year for pop stars in New Orleans. In fact, the only singer who outsold Pat Boone in the 1950s, Elvis Presley, filmed King Creole (arguably his best film) here as well. Co-starring the ever-irascible Fred Clark, Mardi Gras can be found in its entirety on YouTube.
The Savage Bees (1976)
What happens when you take Tector from The Wild Bunch (Ben Johnson), the title character of the Kill Bill movies (Michael Parks), and Chico from The Magnificent Seven (Horst Bucholz) and have them join forces to save New Orleans, and the world, from a horde of African killer bees? Well, you get a totally bad ass group of good guys who are racing against time while everyone else is having fun at the p-rades. When it's all over, you will never look at the Superdome in the same way again. You can officially watch this made-for-television movie on Tubi, but here's a little secret: YouTube has a much cleaner copy.
Mardi Gras Massacre (1978)
Here it is, the only movie that can take its place on a list for either Fat Tuesday or Halloween—a homegrown slasher with blood and nudity galore. In other words, it isn't on the infamous "Video Nasties" list for nothing. The plot concerns a debonair crackpot who is ritualistically killing buxom women in the French Quarter. Can the New Orleans police detectives stop the massacre before all the city's strippers are gone? This film doesn't star anyone that you would recognize, save for legendary local broadcaster Wayne Mack, who was also in The Savage Bees. Directed by Jack Weis, a low-budget filmmaker who made films in these parts all throughout the 1970s, including sensational titles such as Quadroon (1971) and Storyville (1974), Mardi Gras Massacre is undoubtedly his crowning achievement. To see what it's all about, simply visit Tubi.
