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The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
19 December 1952 (Sweden)
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Tagline:
The Heartbeat Story of Circus People, Filmed with the Cooperation of Ringling Bros. - Barnum and Bailey Circus! more
Plot:
The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer against a background of circus spectacle. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars.
Another 3 wins
&
4 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
It's The Greatest Show On Earth
(From EmpireOnline. 13 July 2009, 11:22 PM, PDT)
Charlton Heston Dead At 83
(From WENN. 6 April 2008, 7:11 AM, PDT)
(From EmpireOnline. 13 July 2009, 11:22 PM, PDT)
Charlton Heston Dead At 83
(From WENN. 6 April 2008, 7:11 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Hey, doesn't anyone remember Last Emperor?
more (82 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Betty Hutton | ... | Holly | |
| Cornel Wilde | ... | The Great Sebastian | |
| Charlton Heston | ... | Brad Braden | |
| Dorothy Lamour | ... | Phyllis | |
| Gloria Grahame | ... | Angel | |
| Henry Wilcoxon | ... | FBI Agent Gregory | |
| Lyle Bettger | ... | Klaus | |
| Lawrence Tierney | ... | Mr. Henderson | |
| Emmett Kelly | ... | Himself | |
| Cucciola | ... | Himself | |
| Antoinette Concello | ... | Herself | |
| John Ringling North | ... | Himself | |
| Tuffy Genders | ... | Himself | |
| John Kellogg | ... | Harry | |
| John Ridgely | ... | Assistant manager |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth (USA) (complete title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
152 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Australia:G |
Australia:PG (TV rating) |
USA:Approved (certificate #15440) |
Netherlands:12 |
Brazil:Livre |
Argentina:16 |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-16 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:U (original rating) (cut) |
UK:U (video rating) (1988) (uncut) |
Canada:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The first movie that Steven Spielberg ever saw. His father took him to the theater, promising him a trip to the circus. He was four years old at the time.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Sebastian misses his mark and falls to the ground, he can be clearly seen landing on a cushioned surface.
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Quotes:
Angel:
You are a sourpuss, aren't you?
Brad Braden: Yeah.
Angel: You want to bite somebody?
Brad Braden: Yeah.
Angel: Well, pick your spot.
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Brad Braden: Yeah.
Angel: You want to bite somebody?
Brad Braden: Yeah.
Angel: Well, pick your spot.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Boy Meets World: The Happiest Show on Earth (#3.21)" (1996)
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Soundtrack:
Dream Lover
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (82 total)
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It constantly amazes me that people carp that this won best Picture, as though no movie before or since ever won when maybe they shouldn't have. It was a big picture, it had a great story, it gave a lot of bang for the buck and that has always been a factor in grabbing the Oscar. It does seem a bit dated to us now, used to high flying special effects, different acting styles, and quick cut editing, instead of letting the scene play out as it so often does here, but it's such a great story. The circus itself is a character and the way Demille used the audience to make them seem so individual is wonderful. And I'm not just referring to the Hope/Crosby cameo. Remember the fat guy with the kid scarfing down the ice cream laughing his head off while the kid looked confused? You could tell he was reliving his childhood and he became EveryMan to us with only seconds of screen time. That's mastery. The integration of the real circus people with the actors was seamless and if nothing else this movie captures a time when the circus was really a circus. Carp all you want, guys. But I think you may be too spoiled by ultra realism to appreciate the subtler gems in this very respectable film.