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The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

APPROVED 152 min  -  Drama | Family | Romance  -   May 1952 (USA)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 5,422 users  
Reviews: 92 user | 25 critic

The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer against a background of circus spectacle.

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

Fredric M. Frank (screenplay), Barré Lyndon (screenplay), and 5 more credits »
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Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Betty Hutton ...
Cornel Wilde ...
Charlton Heston ...
Dorothy Lamour ...
Phyllis
Gloria Grahame ...
Henry Wilcoxon ...
FBI Agent Gregory
Lyle Bettger Lyle Bettger ...
Klaus
Lawrence Tierney ...
Mr. Henderson
Emmett Kelly ...
Himself
Cucciola Cucciola ...
Himself
Antoinette Concello Antoinette Concello ...
Herself
John Ringling North John Ringling North ...
Himself
Tuffy Genders Tuffy Genders ...
Himself
John Kellogg John Kellogg ...
Harry
John Ridgely John Ridgely ...
Assistant Manager
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Storyline

To ensure a full profitable season, circus manager Brad Braden engages The Great Sebastian, though this moves his girlfriend Holly from her hard-won center trapeze spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a dangerous one-upmanship duel in the ring, while he pursues her on the ground. Subplots involve the secret past of Buttons the Clown and the efforts of racketeers to move in on the game concessions. Let the show begin! Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Circus | Clown | Trapeze | Trapeze Artist | Elephant  | See more »

Taglines:

The Heartbeat Story of Circus People, Filmed with the Cooperation of Ringling Bros. - Barnum and Bailey Circus! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth See more »

Filming Locations:

Cedar City, Utah, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$14,000,000 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is often cited as the least deserved Best Picture winner ever. It is widely believed the film only won because many members of the Academy were reluctant to vote for the anti-McCarthyite western High Noon, whose screenwriter Carl Foreman had just been blacklisted from Hollywood. See more »

Goofs

Continuity: When the circus train is leaving to start the season, as it passes the priest performing the blessing, we see the car carrying Holly (clearly visible in the open door) pass twice - two nearly identical shots, one right after the other. See more »

Quotes

Klaus: You always have a smile for that high-flying peacock.
Angel: Well, what do you want me to do, cry over him?
See more »

Connections

Featured in War of the Worlds (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

" (I Wish I Was in) Dixie's Land"
(1860) (uncredited)
Music by Daniel Decatur Emmett
Played as the crowd arrives at the last circus set-up See more »