The Big Circus (1959)
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- Approved
- 1h 49min
- Drama, Romance
- 05 Jul 1959 (USA)
- Movie
A circus owner tries to keep his financially troubled circus on the road, despite the efforts of a murderous saboteur who has decided that the show must not go on.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Victor Mature | ... |
Henry Jasper 'Hank' Whirling
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| Red Buttons | ... |
Randy Sherman
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| Rhonda Fleming | ... |
Helen Harrison
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| Kathryn Grant | ... |
Jeannie Whirling
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| Vincent Price | ... |
Hans Hagenfeld
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| Gilbert Roland | ... |
Zach Colino
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| Peter Lorre | ... |
Skeeter
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| David Nelson | ... |
Tommy Gordon
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| Adele Mara | ... |
Maria 'Mama' Colino
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| Howard McNear | ... |
Mr. Lomax
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| Charles Watts | ... |
Jonathan T. Nelson
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| Steve Allen | ... |
Steve Allen
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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John Albright | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Fay Alexander | ... |
Trapeze Artist (uncredited)
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Audrey Allen | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Don Ames | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| James Bacon | ... |
James Bacon - Reporter (uncredited)
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Walter Bacon | ... |
Onlooker at Niagara Falls (uncredited)
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Harry Baum | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Brandon Beach | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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Nesdon Booth | ... |
Jules Borman - Rival Circus Owner (uncredited)
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| Steve Carruthers | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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| George Cisar | ... |
Bill - Reporter (uncredited)
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Diane Davis | ... |
Circus Perfomer (uncredited)
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Anne Dore | ... |
Circus Perfomer (uncredited)
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Dan Dowling | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Richard Elmore | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Don Forbes | ... |
Interviewer at Niagra Falls (uncredited)
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Kenneth Gibson | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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Marv Goux | ... |
Circus Patron (uncredited)
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Bhupesh Guha | ... |
Circus Worker (uncredited)
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| Sam Harris | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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Eden Hartford | ... |
Circus Perfomer (uncredited)
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| Chester Hayes | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Michael Jeffers | ... |
Photographer (uncredited)
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Valley Keene | ... |
Roman rider (uncredited)
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| Kenner G. Kemp | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Donald Kerr | ... |
Circus Concessionaire (uncredited) (voice)
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| Mike Lally | ... |
Onlooker at Niagara Falls (uncredited)
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Perk Lazelle | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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Vera Lee | ... |
Circus Perfomer (uncredited)
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| Carl M. Leviness | ... |
Bank Board Member (uncredited)
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| J. Edward McKinley | ... |
Circus Perfomer (uncredited)
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Gene Mendez | ... |
Trapeze Artist (uncredited)
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Jim Michael | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Hans Moebus | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| James Nolan | ... |
Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
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| Tony Regan | ... |
Onlooker at Niagara Falls (uncredited)
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John Rice | ... |
Onlooker at Niagara Falls (uncredited)
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| Dick Rich | ... |
Jim Slade - Circus Saboteur (uncredited)
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| Marion Ross | ... |
(uncredited)
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Patti Saunders | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Bernard Sell | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Barry Seltzer | ... |
Small Boy on Steps of Bank (uncredited)
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| Charles Sherlock | ... |
Jack - Photographer (uncredited)
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Edythe Udane | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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John Wald | ... |
John Wald - Commentator at Niagara Falls (uncredited)
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| Geraldine Wall | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Bob Yerkes | ... |
Circus Performer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Joseph M. Newman | ||
Written by
| Irwin Allen | ... | (screenplay by) & |
| Charles Bennett | ... | (screenplay by) and |
| Irving Wallace | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Irwin Allen | ... | (story by) |
Produced by
| Irwin Allen | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Paul Sawtell | ||
| Bert Shefter | ||
Cinematography by
| Winton C. Hoch | ... | director of photography (as Winton Hoch) |
Editing by
| Adrienne Fazan | ||
Editorial Department
| Morgan Padelford | ... | color consultant: Technicolor |
Art Direction by
| Albert S. D'Agostino | ... | (as Albert D'Agostino) |
Set Decoration by
| Robert Priestley | ||
Costume Design by
| Paul Zastupnevich | ||
Makeup Department
| Sydney Guilaroff | ... | hairdresser |
| William Tuttle | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Lowell J. Farrell | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| William McGarry | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Burt Dreyer | ... | construction supervisor |
| Maurice Zuberano | ... | production illustrator |
| Frank Wesselhoff | ... | painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Conrad Kahn | ... | sound |
| Franklin Milton | ... | recording supervisor |
| Bert Schoenfeld | ... | sound effects editor |
| Finn Ulback | ... | sound effects editor |
Visual Effects by
| Robert R. Hoag | ... | optical effects |
Stunts
| Fred Carson | ... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited) |
| Gene Mendez | ... | stunt double: Gilbert Roland (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Audrey Granville | ... | music editor (as Audray Granville) |
| Paul Sawtell | ... | conductor |
| Bert Shefter | ... | conductor |
| Sidney Cutner | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
| Roy Webb | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Irva Mae Ross | ... | script supervisor (as Irva Ross) |
Additional Crew
| Barbette | ... | choreographer |
| Jimmie Wood | ... | technical advisor |
| Fay Alexander | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
| Del Graham | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
| Mel Koontz | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
| Bob Yerkes | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Allied Artists Pictures (1959) (United States) (theatrical) (as Allied Artists Productions Inc)
- Associated British-Pathé (1959) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- City Film (1959) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1959) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Artistes Associés)
- J. Arthur Rank Film (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Allied Artists Television (1963) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Warner Home Video (2009) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr) (widescreen)
- SFM Entertainment (United States) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Panavision (photographic lenses by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
After splitting with his longtime business partner, Hank Whirling is about to take his big top circus on tour. He manages to get a loan and some investment money but has to take on one of their employees, Randy Sherman, to keep an eye on the finances. Sherman immediately hires a new press agent, Helen Harrison, over Hank's objections. After a series of accidents, they soon realize that they have a saboteur in the company. With financial problems increasing, Whirling looks to take the the show to New York City before his former partner Jules Borman can get his circus there. He realizes that he'll need a lot of publicity and trapeze and high wire artist Zach Colino agrees to walk the wire across Niagara Falls. After the circus train is sabotaged - killing Zach's wife and several others - they race to Niagara Falls to complete the high wire act but Zach may not be up it. The saboteur working for Borman bides his time and is planning another death. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | YOU are part of THE BIGGEST SHOW IN THE WORLD! The most exciting behind-the-scenes drama of the Big Top ever told! YOU catapult through the air on a flying trapeze! YOU face the snarling fangs of the King of Beasts! YOU...walk a swaying tight-rope across thundering Niagara! YOU are a human bullet...blasted out of a mighty canon! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $2,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Final film of veteran character actor Dick Rich--he worked exclusively on television until his retirement in 1961. See more » |
| Goofs | In the climactic trapeze act near the end, Zach and Jeannie are repeatedly shown standing on the opposite side of the stationary platform in long shots from where they're standing in close-ups. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Episode #9.34 (1959). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Big Circus See more » |
| Quotes |
Hans Hagenfeld:
[First Lines]
Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages! We give you a spectacle of unparoled beauty, Whirling's World Famous Parade of the Nations! See more » |