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.
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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>
Burt Lancaster performed all of the trapeze stunts himself, having worked in a circus before entering films. He insisted on doing the climactic triple flip, but technical adviser Eddie Ward initially was hesitant on Lancaster performing the stunt, so Ward doubled for Lancaster during the first weeks of shooting, but Lancaster told director Carol Reed that he knew how to do the stunt from the get-go so it is Lancaster you see in the final cut of the film. 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 »
Carol Reed has often been viewed as a great director of British films. This is the second film of his I've seen, after the (truly) classic "The Third Man". It is not what I'd have expected from Reed. The script lacks wit, surprise or innovation; it's tough to contemplate why Reed chose to make a film based on such a run-of-mill story. The saving grace tends to be the acting. Burt Lancaster fares best, offering charisma and some depth. Curtis is profficient as the overly naive pupil of Lancaster, while Gina Lollobrigida offers a steady portrayal and much radiance. The circus ambience is well created, and everything seems realistic. The trapeze act is breathtakingly filmed, it has to be said, and the colour is effective.
A minor effort from Carol Reed, that against all odds, is never boring. Rating:- *** (out of *****).
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Carol Reed has often been viewed as a great director of British films. This is the second film of his I've seen, after the (truly) classic "The Third Man". It is not what I'd have expected from Reed. The script lacks wit, surprise or innovation; it's tough to contemplate why Reed chose to make a film based on such a run-of-mill story. The saving grace tends to be the acting. Burt Lancaster fares best, offering charisma and some depth. Curtis is profficient as the overly naive pupil of Lancaster, while Gina Lollobrigida offers a steady portrayal and much radiance. The circus ambience is well created, and everything seems realistic. The trapeze act is breathtakingly filmed, it has to be said, and the colour is effective.
A minor effort from Carol Reed, that against all odds, is never boring. Rating:- *** (out of *****).