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IMDbPro

The Greatest Show on Earth

  • 19521952
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour, and Cornel Wilde in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
Official Trailer
Play trailer6:54
1 Video
75 Photos
  • Drama
  • Family
  • Romance
The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle.The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle.The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Fredric M. Frank(screenplay)
    • Barré Lyndon(screenplay)
    • Theodore St. John(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • Charlton Heston
    • Betty Hutton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Fredric M. Frank(screenplay)
    • Barré Lyndon(screenplay)
    • Theodore St. John(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • Charlton Heston
    • Betty Hutton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 146User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 9 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Greatest Show on Earth
    Trailer 6:54
    The Greatest Show on Earth

    Photos75

    James Stewart, Betty Hutton, Lane Chandler, and Emmett Kelly in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    Charlton Heston and Gloria Grahame in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    Cecil B. DeMille in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    Charlton Heston, Gloria Grahame, Betty Hutton, and Lane Chandler in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    Charlton Heston, James Stewart, and Cornel Wilde in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Betty Hutton, Lane Chandler, and Cornel Wilde in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, and Lou Jacobs in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    Betty Hutton in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Stewart
    James Stewart
    • 'Buttons' A Clownas 'Buttons' A Clown
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Brad Bradenas Brad Braden
    Betty Hutton
    Betty Hutton
    • Hollyas Holly
    Cornel Wilde
    Cornel Wilde
    • The Great Sebastianas The Great Sebastian
    Dorothy Lamour
    Dorothy Lamour
    • Phyllisas Phyllis
    Gloria Grahame
    Gloria Grahame
    • Angelas Angel
    Henry Wilcoxon
    Henry Wilcoxon
    • FBI Agent Gregoryas FBI Agent Gregory
    Lyle Bettger
    Lyle Bettger
    • Klausas Klaus
    Lawrence Tierney
    Lawrence Tierney
    • Mr. Hendersonas Mr. Henderson
    Emmett Kelly
    Emmett Kelly
    • Emmett Kellyas Emmett Kelly
    Cucciola
    • Cucciolaas Cucciola
    Antoinette Concello
    • Antoinette Concelloas Antoinette Concello
    John Ringling North
    • John Ringling Northas John Ringling North
    Tuffy Genders
    • Tuffy Gendersas Tuffy Genders
    John Kellogg
    John Kellogg
    • Harryas Harry
    John Ridgely
    John Ridgely
    • Assistant Manageras Assistant Manager
    Frank Wilcox
    Frank Wilcox
    • Circus Doctoras Circus Doctor
    Robert Carson
    Robert Carson
    • Ringmasteras Ringmaster
    • (as Bob Carson)
    • Director
      • Cecil B. DeMille
    • Writers
      • Fredric M. Frank(screenplay) (story)
      • Barré Lyndon(screenplay)
      • Theodore St. John(screenplay) (story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite his made-to-order background as a real-life circus acrobat, Burt Lancaster declined the role of The Great Sebastian, a fact Cecil B. DeMille doubly regretted when he learned that Cornel Wilde was afraid of heights. Wilde was game, however, and ended up performing many of his own stunts on the flying trapeze.
    • Goofs
      When Brad is checking the baby gorillas after learning they may have contracted the mumps, a crowd of onlookers is gathered right behind, plainly staring at the camera filming the scene.
    • Quotes

      Brad Braden: [while Buttons is doing first aid] Buttons! If that detective sees you doing this, he won't need *fingerprints*!

    • Connections
      Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to James Stewart (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      The Greatest Show on Earth
      By Victor Young and Ned Washington
      Sung by Betty Hutton (uncredited)

    User reviews146

    Review
    Top review
    Entertaining from start to finish!
    An All Star Cast, Director of epics and of course the many circus scenes make this Best Picture film of 1952 well worth watching. For the most part this movie shows a part of Americana that's, sadly, long gone. 10 out of 10!
    helpful•10
    2
    • sjtom49
    • Jul 19, 2001

    FAQ1

    • What did Buttons do?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth
    • Filming locations
      • Sarasota, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $36,000,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $36,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 32 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour, and Cornel Wilde in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
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