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Trapeze (1956)

Approved | | Drama, Romance | 30 May 1956 (USA)
A crippled circus acrobat is torn emotionally between two ambitious young trapeze artists, one a talented young American and a less-gifted but beautiful Italian.

Director:

Writers:

(novel), (adaptation) | 1 more credit »
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3 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
...
Lola
...
Rosa
...
Bouglione
Johnny Puleo ...
Max (dwarf) (as John Puleo)
Minor Watson ...
John Ringling North
Gérard Landry ...
Chikki (as Gerard Landry)
Jean-Pierre Kérien ...
Otto (as Jean-Pierre Kerien)
Sidney James ...
Snake Charmer
Gimma Boys ...
Circus family children
Los Arriolas ...
Specialty Act
Gamil Ratib ...
Stefan
Pierre Tabard ...
Paul
Edward Hagopian ...
3rd partner of Lola
Edit

Storyline

Mike Ribble was once a great trapeze artist - and the only to have completed a triple somersault - before his accident. Tino joins the circus, and manages to covince Mike to teach him the 'triple'. Meanwhile Lola, a tumbler, wants to get in on the act. Written by Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

High...High...High...Above Them All! - in excitement! - in spectacle! - in fire, flesh and fury! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
Edit

Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

30 May 1956 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Trapez  »

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Recording) (optical prints)| (Western Electric Recording) (magnetic prints)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Bouglione was loosely based on the Cirque d'Hiver's real-life proprietor, Joseph Bouglione. See more »

Quotes

Mike Ribble: Why do you think I always want a two-act? One swings, and the other catches, and nobody comes between them!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Cheers: Peterson Crusoe (1984) See more »

Soundtracks

The Blue Danube (An der schönen, blauen Donau, Op. 314)
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauss
Played during the trapeze routines
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Almost a great circus movie
24 April 2006 | by (Derry, Ireland) – See all my reviews

Almost a great circus movie, (if such a thing could exist), "Trapeze" comes closer than most to capturing the tawdry excitement of the milieu. While most circus pictures are aimed at kids this is aimed, if not quite at adults, then at least at older kids. It's sexy and it makes the whole business of being a trapeze artist seem like the sexiest, most exciting thing in the world.

It's about the rivalry that can develop, both professionally and romantically, between artists and the director, Carol Reed, gives the film a charge that his more famous and infinitely more civilized films don't have. As the trio of artists who are almost consumed by their passions Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina Lolobrigida have an instinctive rapport. Lancaster and Curtis' performances here seem like a dry run for their work a year later in "Sweet Smell of Success" and Lolobrigida never looked or acted better. Although Lancaster wasn't young when he made this, he's like the biggest kid in the playground and seems to be having a hell of a time while Lolobrigida is a dynamic tease.


18 of 19 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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