The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) 6.7
The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer against a background of circus spectacle. Director:Cecil B. DeMille |
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The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) 6.7
The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer against a background of circus spectacle. Director:Cecil B. DeMille |
|
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Betty Hutton | ... | ||
| Cornel Wilde | ... | ||
| Charlton Heston | ... | ||
| Dorothy Lamour | ... |
Phyllis
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| Gloria Grahame | ... | ||
| Henry Wilcoxon | ... |
FBI Agent Gregory
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| Lyle Bettger | ... |
Klaus
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| Lawrence Tierney | ... |
Mr. Henderson
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| Emmett Kelly | ... |
Himself
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Cucciola | ... |
Himself
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Antoinette Concello | ... |
Herself
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John Ringling North | ... |
Himself
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Tuffy Genders | ... |
Himself
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John Kellogg | ... |
Harry
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John Ridgely | ... |
Assistant Manager
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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>
Since this film was released in 1952, some scenes in the film will really be outdated (effects). But other than that, the film is a feast to the eyes and if you're sentimental, to the heart. With a seemingly thin plot, Cecil B. deMille made the film work with visuals and moments of suspense that is missing from a lot of big films nowadays. Mr. deMille is a master of epic films and this is one example. He made the circus one of the main characters in the film, that you will find yourself missing it at this day and age. A guilty pleasure? For me this is a magical pleasure.