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The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
May 1952 (USA)
See more »
Tagline:
The Heartbeat Story of Circus People, Filmed with the Cooperation of Ringling Bros. - Barnum and Bailey Circus! See 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
See more »
NewsDesk:
(54 articles)
Family Film Time: 'Stretch Armstrong' & 'Ringling Brothers' Get Writers
(From The Playlist. 25 April 2012, 8:22 AM, PDT)
Paramount Hires ‘Smurfs’ Writers for ‘Ringling Brothers’
(From The Film Stage. 24 April 2012, 7:00 AM, PDT)
The Ringling Brothers Movie in the Works
(From Worst Previews. 24 April 2012, 1:41 AM, PDT)
(From The Playlist. 25 April 2012, 8:22 AM, PDT)
Paramount Hires ‘Smurfs’ Writers for ‘Ringling Brothers’
(From The Film Stage. 24 April 2012, 7:00 AM, PDT)
The Ringling Brothers Movie in the Works
(From Worst Previews. 24 April 2012, 1:41 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Great show and story
See more (92 total) »
Cast
(in credits order) (verified as complete) | 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 |
| Frank Wilcox | ... | Circus Doctor |
| Robert Carson | ... | Ringmaster (as Bob Carson) |
| Lillian Albertson | ... | Buttons' Mother |
| Julia Faye | ... | Birdie |
 | James Stewart | ... | 'Buttons' A Clown |
| Lou Jacobs | ... | Himself - Clown |
| The Alzanas | ... | Themselves |
| Trisco | ... | Himself |
| The Flying Artonys | ... | Themselves |
| Lilo Juston | ... | Herself |
| The Chaludis | ... | Themselves |
| The Idnavis | ... | Themselves |
| The Realles | ... | Themselves |
| The Fredonias | ... | Themselves |
| Luciana & Friedel | ... | Themselves |
| Buzzy Potts | ... | Himself |
| Ernie Burch | ... | Himself |
| Felix Adler | ... | Himself |
| Paul Jerome | ... | Himself |
| Miss Patricia | ... | Herself |
| Eddie Kohl | ... | Himself |
| Tiebor's Sea Lions | ... | Themselves |
| Mroczkowski's Liberty Horses | ... | Themselves |
| The Zoppes | ... | Themselves |
| Bones Brown | ... | Himself |
| Fay Alexander | ... | Himself |
| The Flying Concellos | ... | Themselves |
| Lola Dobritch | ... | Herself |
| The Hemadas | ... | Themselves |
| Christy and Gorilla | ... | Themselves (as Christy & Gorilla) |
| Tonito | ... | Himself |
| The Bokaras | ... | Themselves |
| Prince Paul | ... | Himself |
| Jimmy Armstrong | ... | Himself |
| Paul Horompo | ... | Himself |
| Paul Jung | ... | Himself |
| Charley Bell | ... | Himself |
| Gilbert Reichert | ... | Himself |
| C.H. Lindsey | ... | Himself |
| Peterson's Dogs | ... | Themselves |
| Rix's Bears | ... | Themselves |
| Arthur Burson | ... | Himself |
| La Norma | ... | Herself |
| Jeanne Sleeter | ... | Herself |
| Bill Snyder | ... | Himself |
| The Flying Comets | ... | Themselves |
| Veronica Martell | ... | Herself |
| Miss Loni | ... | Herself |
| The Romigs | ... | Themselves |
| Rusty Parent | ... | Himself |
| The Maxellos | ... | Themselves |
| Martha Hunter | ... | Herself |
| Truzzi | ... | Himself |
| Eugene Scott | ... | Himself |
| James Barnes | ... | Himself |
| Merle Evans | ... | Himself - Circus Bandleader |
| Frank McClosky | ... | Himself |
| Mike Petrillo | ... | Himself |
| Peter Grace | ... | Himself |
| Bob Reynolds | ... | Himself |
| George Werner | ... | Himself |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Lee Aaker | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Adams | ... | Sam's Wife (uncredited) |
| Eric Alden | ... | Canvas Man (uncredited) |
| Erville Alderson | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Stanley Andrews | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Ross Bagdasarian | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Vicki Bakken | ... | Vicki (uncredited) |
| Mary Bezemes | ... | Minor Role (uncredited) |
| Gladys Blake | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
 | Oliver Blake | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
 | William Boyd | ... | Hopalong Cassidy (uncredited) |
| Ralph Brooks | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Helen Brown | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Arthur Q. Bryan | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Bobby Burns | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Paul E. Burns | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Lonnie Burr | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Bruce Cameron | ... | Bruce (uncredited) |
| Charles D. Campbell | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Malcolm Cassell | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Iphigenie Castiglioni | ... | Herself (uncredited) |
| Lane Chandler | ... | Dave (uncredited) |
| Ken Christy | ... | Tightrope Act Spectator (uncredited) |
| Davison Clark | ... | Farmer Sam (uncredited) |
| Lydia Clarke | ... | Circus Girl (uncredited) |
| Rus Conklin | ... | Rus (uncredited) |
| Gerald Courtemarche | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| John Crawford | ... | Jack - Circus Attendant (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Crider | ... | Dorothy (uncredited) |
 | Bing Crosby | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Bob Crosby | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
 | Cecil B. DeMille | ... | Narrator (voice) (uncredited) |
| Bobby Diamond | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Lester Dorr | ... | Midway Game Barker (uncredited) |
| Gloria Drew | ... | Ann (uncredited) |
| Jimmie Dundee | ... | Utility Man / Stake Driver (uncredited) |
| Claude Dunkin | ... | Claude (uncredited) |
| Don Dunning | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Art Dupuis | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Rosemary Dvorak | ... | Rosemary (uncredited) |
| Daisy Earles | ... | Midget (uncredited) |
| Bonnie Kay Eddy | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Franklyn Farnum | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Mary Field | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Norman Field | ... | Truesdale (uncredited) |
| Bess Flowers | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Kathleen Freeman | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Mona Freeman | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Gerry Ganzer | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Nancy Gates | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Slim Gaut | ... | Circus Man (uncredited) |
| Everett Glass | ... | Board Member (uncredited) |
| Joseph Granby | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Greta Granstedt | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Linda Green | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Dolores Hall | ... | Circus Girl (uncredited) |
| Scott H. Hall | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| William Hall | ... | Bill (uncredited) |
| John Hamer | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Chuck Hamilton | ... | Ambulance Driver (uncredited) |
 | Peter Hansen | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
 | Charmienne Harker | ... | Charmienne (uncredited) |
| Joe Harper | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Kathleen Hartnagel | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Helene Hatch | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Bradford Hatton | ... | Osborne (uncredited) |
 | Jimmy Hawkins | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| William Henry | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Paula Hill | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Fay Holderness | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
 | Bob Hope | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Jerry James | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Adele Cook Johnson | ... | Mable (uncredited) |
| Brad Johnson | ... | Reporter (uncredited) |
 | Van Johnson | ... | Spectator (uncredited) (unconfirmed) |
| Lorna Jordon | ... | Lorna (uncredited) |
| Frances Karath | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Milton Kibbee | ... | Pickpocket Victim (uncredited) |
| Mona Knox | ... | Mona (uncredited) |
| Fred Kohler Jr. | ... | Train Fireman (uncredited) |
| Ethan Laidlaw | ... | Hank (uncredited) |
| Rudy Lee | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Herbert Lytton | ... | Foreman (uncredited) |
| George Magrill | ... | Circus Man (uncredited) |
| Anthony Marsh | ... | Tony (uncredited) |
| Sydney Mason | ... | Carson (uncredited) |
| Gay McEldowney | ... | Gay (uncredited) |
| Peggy McKim | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| James McNally | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Bill Meader | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Frank Meredith | ... | Train Engineer (uncredited) |
| John Merton | ... | Chuck (uncredited) |
| Gertrude Messinger | ... | Gertrude (uncredited) |
| Patricia Michon | ... | Patricia (uncredited) |
| Royce Milne | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Ralph Montgomery | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Beverly Mook | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Lyle Moraine | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Clarence Nash | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Howard Negley | ... | Truck Boss (uncredited) |
 | Noel Neill | ... | Noel (uncredited) |
| Ottola Nesmith | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Joel Nestler | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| David Newell | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Eric Nielsen | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Noralee Norman | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Judy Nugent | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
 | Edmond O'Brien | ... | Midway Barker at End (uncredited) |
| Susan Odin | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Sammy Ogg | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Ruth Packard | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| John Parrish | ... | Jack Lawson (uncredited) |
| Luce Potter | ... | Midget (uncredited) |
| Hugh Prosser | ... | Hugh (uncredited) |
| Harry Raven | ... | Circus Man (uncredited) |
| Keith Richards | ... | Keith - Circus Attendant (uncredited) |
| William J. Riley | ... | Policeman (uncredited) |
| Peter Roman | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Angelo Rossitto | ... | Midget (uncredited) |
| Gladys Rosson | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| William Ruhl | ... | Circus Barker (uncredited) |
| Robert W. Rushing | ... | Policeman (uncredited) |
| Russell Saunders | ... | Circus Man (uncredited) |
| Syd Saylor | ... | Circus Barker (uncredited) |
| Queenie Smith | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Robert St. Angelo | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Mabel Stark | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Robert R. Stephenson | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Tony Taylor | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Roland Tiebor | ... | Himself - Sea Lion Trainer (uncredited) |
| Stuart Torres | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Dale Van Sickel | ... | Man in Train Wreck (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Vernon | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Judith Ann Vroom | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Wally Walker | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Beverly Washburn | ... | Little Girl Spectator (uncredited) |
| Joan Whitney | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Josephine Whittell | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Kay Wiley | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Robin Winans | ... | Little Boy Spectator (uncredited) |
| Christine Wright | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Fred Zendar | ... | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Alberto Zoppe | ... | Himself - Trick Rider (uncredited) |
Directed by | |||
| Cecil B. DeMille | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Fredric M. Frank | (screenplay) & | |
| Barré Lyndon | (screenplay) & | |
| Theodore St. John | (screenplay) | |
| Fredric M. Frank | (story) & | |
| Theodore St. John | (story) & | |
| Frank Cavett | (story) | |
| Jack Gariss | additional writer (uncredited) | |
Produced by | |||
| Cecil B. DeMille | .... | producer | |
| Henry Wilcoxon | .... | associate producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Victor Young | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| George Barnes | (director of photography) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Anne Bauchens | (edited by) | ||
Art Direction by | |||
| Hal Pereira | |||
| Walter H. Tyler | (as Walter Tyler) | ||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Sam Comer | |||
| Ray Moyer | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Edith Head | (costumes) | ||
| Dorothy Jeakins | (costumes) | ||
| Miles White | (circus costumes) | ||
Makeup Department | |||
| Wally Westmore | .... | makeup supervision | |
Production Management | |||
| Roy Burns | .... | unit manager (uncredited) | |
| C. Kenneth Deland | .... | unit manager (uncredited) | |
| Andrew J. Durkus | .... | unit manager (uncredited) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Arthur Rosson | .... | unit director | |
| Edward Salven | .... | assistant director | |
| Frank Baur | .... | second assistant director (uncredited) | |
| Daniel McCauley | .... | assistant director (uncredited) | |
| Walter H. Tyler | .... | assistant director (uncredited) | |
Art Department | |||
| Norman Bel Geddes | .... | designer: big top (uncredited) | |
| Gene Lauritzen | .... | construction coordinator (uncredited) | |
| Jack Senter | .... | assistant art director (uncredited) | |
Sound Department | |||
| John Cope | .... | sound recordist | |
| Harry Lindgren | .... | sound recordist | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Barney Wolff | .... | special effects (uncredited) | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Devereaux Jennings | .... | special photographic effects (as Devereux Jennings) | |
| Gordon Jennings | .... | special photographic effects | |
| Paul K. Lerpae | .... | special photographic effects (as Paul Lerpae) | |
Stunts | |||
| Polly Burson | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| Chuck Hamilton | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| Russell Saunders | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| Dale Van Sickel | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| W. Wallace Kelley | .... | additional photographer (as Wallace Kelley) | |
| J. Peverell Marley | .... | additional photographer | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Joan Joseff | .... | costume jeweller (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| John Murray Anderson | .... | stager: circus musical and dance numbers | |
| Sidney Cutner | .... | orchestrator (uncredited) | |
| George Parrish | .... | orchestrator (uncredited) | |
| Leo Shuken | .... | orchestrator (uncredited) | |
Other crew | |||
| Richard Barstow | .... | choreographer | |
| Robert Brower | .... | technicolor color consultant | |
| Arthur M. Concello | .... | general manager: Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus | |
| John Ringling North | .... | president: Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus | |
| John Ringling North | .... | technical advisor | |
| Henry Ringling North | .... | vice president: Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus | |
| Pat Valdo | .... | general director of performance: Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus | |
| James Vincent | .... | dialogue supervisor | |
| Lynn Couch | .... | aerialist coach: Cornel Wilde (uncredited) | |
| Barlow Simpson | .... | animal handler: elephant (uncredited) | |
Production Companies
- Paramount Pictures (as Paramount Pictures Corporation)
- Paramount Pictures (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (as Paramount Pictures Corporation)
- Paramount British Pictures (1952) (UK) (theatrical)
- Paramount (1953) (France) (theatrical) (35 and 16 mm)
- Paramount Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Paramount Pictures (1988) (USA) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
- Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
- PSG (2005) (Japan) (DVD)
- Tone (2005) (Japan) (DVD)
- First Trading (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
- GP Museum Soft (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
- Maxter (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- AFEX (1953) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Paramount-Films (1952) (1962) (Finland) (theatrical)
- ARC (????) (Japan) (DVD)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1967) (USA) (TV)
- CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
- CIC-Taft Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1984) (Finland) (TV)
- Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (2001) (Finland) (TV)
- Brooks Costume Company circus costumes executed by (as Brooks Costume Co., New York)
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment cranes and dollies (uncredited)
- Ringling Bros.and Barnum & Bailey produced with the cooperation of
Additional Details
Also Known As:
"Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth" - USA (complete title)
See more »
See more »
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
152 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Australia:G | Australia:PG (TV rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #15440) | Netherlands:12 | Brazil:Livre | West Germany:12 (nf) | 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:
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 (1952), 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:
Movie Connections:
Featured in War of the Worlds (2005)See more »
Soundtrack:
It's a Hap-Hap-Happy DaySee more »
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.See more (92 total) »
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) See more »Recommendations
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An 
company.
I know that some people are down on this movie, but I absolutely LOVE it. It has great ideals and good (not great) acting. It tells a story about the circus in a pseudo-documentary. The story has love, action, and humor. Three things that are missing from much of today's movie. I also love the color and the dramatic "feel" of the film for that era. It's a wonderful, wonderful, piece of 'Americana'.