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IMDbPro

Man on a Tightrope

  • 19531953
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Cameron Mitchell and Terry Moore in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer3:09
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaThriller
A Czech circus owner/clown and his entire troupe employ a daring stratagem in order to escape en masse from behind the iron curtain.A Czech circus owner/clown and his entire troupe employ a daring stratagem in order to escape en masse from behind the iron curtain.A Czech circus owner/clown and his entire troupe employ a daring stratagem in order to escape en masse from behind the iron curtain.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Elia Kazan
  • Writers
    • Robert E. Sherwood(screenplay)
    • Neil Paterson(story "International Incident")
  • Stars
    • Fredric March
    • Terry Moore
    • Gloria Grahame
  • Director
    • Elia Kazan
  • Writers
    • Robert E. Sherwood(screenplay)
    • Neil Paterson(story "International Incident")
  • Stars
    • Fredric March
    • Terry Moore
    • Gloria Grahame
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 44User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:09
    Watch Trailer

    Photos102

    Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Terry Moore and Dorothea Wieck in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Paul Hartman and Fredric March in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Paul Hartman and Fredric March in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Cameron Mitchell and Terry Moore in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Cameron Mitchell and Terry Moore in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Richard Boone and Fredric March in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Cameron Mitchell and Terry Moore in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Terry Moore in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Fredric March and Terry Moore in Man on a Tightrope (1953)
    Fredric March and Terry Moore in Man on a Tightrope (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fredric March
    Fredric March
    • Karel Cernik
    Terry Moore
    Terry Moore
    • Tereza Cernik
    Gloria Grahame
    Gloria Grahame
    • Zama Cernik
    Cameron Mitchell
    Cameron Mitchell
    • Joe Vosdek
    Adolphe Menjou
    Adolphe Menjou
    • Fesker
    Robert Beatty
    Robert Beatty
    • Barovic
    Alexander D'Arcy
    Alexander D'Arcy
    • Rudolph
    • (as Alex D'Arcy)
    Richard Boone
    Richard Boone
    • Krofta
    Pat Henning
    Pat Henning
    • Konradin
    Paul Hartman
    Paul Hartman
    • Jaremir
    John Dehner
    John Dehner
    • The Chief
    Peter Beauvais
    • Secret Police Captain
    • (uncredited)
    Mme. Brumbach
    • Mme. Cernik
    • (uncredited)
    Willy Castello
    Willy Castello
    • Captain
    • (uncredited)
    Gert Fröbe
    Gert Fröbe
    • Police Agent
    • (uncredited)
    Hansi
    • Kalka
    • (uncredited)
    Philip Kenneally
    Philip Kenneally
    • The Sergeant
    • (uncredited)
    Edelweiß Malchin
    • Konradine
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Elia Kazan
    • Writers
      • Robert E. Sherwood(screenplay)
      • Neil Paterson(story "International Incident")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Hildegard Knef was supposed to play the female lead, but shortly before filming began, Elia Kazan cast Gloria Grahame instead.
    • Goofs
      When Fredric March is being interrogated, the inkwell in front of him is uncovered, when the camera switches between him & his interrogator, the inkwell's cover is on.
    • Quotes

      Rudolph: [to Cernik] The curse of my life is that I'm a handsome man.

    • Connections
      Referenced in American Masters: None Without Sin (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      The Moldau
      (uncredited)

      from "Ma Vlast (My Country)"

      Music by Bedrich Smetana

      Arranged by Franz Waxman and Earle Hagen

      Played during circus sequences by a band and as background music by the orchestra several times

    User reviews44

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    even the elephants escaped
    A circus in 1950's communist Czechoslovakia makes a dash into the US zone. Being circus people, they have no ostensible political priorities, but the owner, who also dresses up as a clown (Frederic March), seems to have been pushed to take the drastic measure because the communist party functionaries led by Adolphe Menjou find his overall attitude lacking in any discernible commitment. March's daughter in the film is the striking Terry Moore who has fallen for a mysterious circus laborer played by Cameron Mitchell. March's wife is sexy Gloria Graham. The two of them (Moore and Graham) both add a lot. The film makes the distinction in this circus between the artists and the workers. The communists want a workers' paradise and seem to try to make the circus toe the line. The leader of the circus workers is played by Richard Boone, whose part has bought into the communist ideology. The circus midgets also play vital roles in this film, which does not waste any of its actors. The black and white photography matches the stereotypical drab lives in the communist sectors. Menjou, as the communist party leader, is on to March, but, being Menjou, he too becomes a target of operatives in his own party. Directed by Elia Kazan, the film is a real surprise. The overall plot to escape with the circus reaches a well drawn out ending, with even the circus elephants making the dash west.
    helpful•16
    1
    • RanchoTuVu
    • Aug 25, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 29, 1953 (West Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • West Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • International Incident
    • Filming locations
      • Bavaria Studios, Bavariafilmplatz 7, Geiselgasteig, Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Bavaria Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,200,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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