Marred slightly by obvious process shots, and mediocre directing, "Circus World" ultimately excites and thrills, with a story that moves between and among the small and intimate to the large and encompassing.
Claudia Cardinale, who liked to be called "CC," steals the movie, despite all the competition, because she is gorgeous, cute, charming, and her combination Franco-Italian personality and speech just sweeps everything and everybody away. She is simply adorable, as well as beautiful.
Competing in the beauty department is Rita Hayworth, apparently already beginning to suffer from illnesses that would damage and eventually kill her.
John Wayne looks slim and trim, and it's hard to believe it was only five more years till he would again team up with director Henry Hathaway for "True Grit" in which he would play the over-weight drunk Rooster Cogburn.
John Smith needed a better director, and I wonder if Hathaway too was already beginning to show the ravages of illnesses that seem to be the causes for the rapid decline of his work.
Lloyd Nolan gave, as usual, an outgoing and strong portrayal, and it's intriguing to see him with John Wayne. Legend says that when John Ford asked Wayne for a recommendation for someone to play the Ringo Kid in "Stagecoach, " Duke Wayne said "Lloyd Nolan."
No doubt Nolan would have been great, if completely different from Wayne, in the role since he was usually great in any role.
Real circus acts round out the cast and even when other activity is going on around them, it's hard not to pay attention. In fact, they help make one want to re-watch "Circus World" again and again.
And you can since there is a great print at YouTube and I highly recommend "Circus World" for many reasons.
Claudia Cardinale, who liked to be called "CC," steals the movie, despite all the competition, because she is gorgeous, cute, charming, and her combination Franco-Italian personality and speech just sweeps everything and everybody away. She is simply adorable, as well as beautiful.
Competing in the beauty department is Rita Hayworth, apparently already beginning to suffer from illnesses that would damage and eventually kill her.
John Wayne looks slim and trim, and it's hard to believe it was only five more years till he would again team up with director Henry Hathaway for "True Grit" in which he would play the over-weight drunk Rooster Cogburn.
John Smith needed a better director, and I wonder if Hathaway too was already beginning to show the ravages of illnesses that seem to be the causes for the rapid decline of his work.
Lloyd Nolan gave, as usual, an outgoing and strong portrayal, and it's intriguing to see him with John Wayne. Legend says that when John Ford asked Wayne for a recommendation for someone to play the Ringo Kid in "Stagecoach, " Duke Wayne said "Lloyd Nolan."
No doubt Nolan would have been great, if completely different from Wayne, in the role since he was usually great in any role.
Real circus acts round out the cast and even when other activity is going on around them, it's hard not to pay attention. In fact, they help make one want to re-watch "Circus World" again and again.
And you can since there is a great print at YouTube and I highly recommend "Circus World" for many reasons.