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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
DramaFamilyRomance
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
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Fredric M. Frank(screenplay)
    • Barré Lyndon(screenplay)
    • Theodore St. John(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • Charlton Heston
    • Betty Hutton
    • 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
    • 148User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars

    Videos1

    The Greatest Show on Earth
    Trailer 6:54
    Watch 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 Clown
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Brad Braden
    Betty Hutton
    Betty Hutton
    • Holly
    Cornel Wilde
    Cornel Wilde
    • The Great Sebastian
    Dorothy Lamour
    Dorothy Lamour
    • Phyllis
    Gloria Grahame
    Gloria Grahame
    • Angel
    Henry Wilcoxon
    Henry Wilcoxon
    • FBI Agent Gregory
    Lyle Bettger
    Lyle Bettger
    • Klaus
    Lawrence Tierney
    Lawrence Tierney
    • Mr. Henderson
    Emmett Kelly
    Emmett Kelly
    • Emmett Kelly
    Cucciola
    • Cucciola
    Antoinette Concello
    • Antoinette Concello
    John Ringling North
    • John Ringling North
    Tuffy Genders
    • Tuffy Genders
    John Kellogg
    John Kellogg
    • Harry
    John Ridgely
    John Ridgely
    • Assistant Manager
    Frank Wilcox
    Frank Wilcox
    • Circus Doctor
    Robert Carson
    Robert Carson
    • Ringmaster
    • (as Bob Carson)
      • Cecil B. DeMille
    • Writers
      • Fredric M. Frank(screenplay) (story)
      • Barré Lyndon(screenplay)
      • Theodore St. John(screenplay) (story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more 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

      [Phyllis is having her hair washed by Birdie as heart-throb Sebastian approaches;]

      Phyllis: Why is it whenever he's around I'm all wet?

      Birdie: In more ways than one.

    • 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 reviews148

    Review
    Review
    Featured 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•11
    2
    • sjtom49
    • Jul 19, 2001

    FAQ1

    • What did Buttons do?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1952 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Sarasota, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 32 minutes

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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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    By what name was The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) officially released in India in Hindi?
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