The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

The Greatest Show on Earth is a heaping helping of flapdoodle served up by one of Hollywood's canniest entertainers: producer-director Cecil B. DeMille. This overripe melodrama purports to be life inside the Ringling Brothers Circus; maybe it's not, but the circus ought to be like this. The actors wrestling with the purple dialogue are: early-career Charlton Heston, as the tough-as-nails circus manager; Cornel Wilde and Betty Hutton as trapeze artistes; and Gloria Grahame (who won an Oscar), dangling from elephants. Best of all, James Stewart plays a clown who--for mysterious reasons--never removes his makeup. (Stewart took the supporting role simply because he'd always wanted to play a clown.) This is a fried-baloney sandwich of a movie: it ain't sophisticated, and probably isn't good for you, but once you start you can't stop. It was the box-office champ of 1952, and it shocked everybody by winning the best picture Oscar. --Robert Horton Amazon.com essential video

great clown movie

despite its age, 1960's, if i recall, this movie is great for capturing so many of the classic r b&b clowns such as emmet kelly, etc. I don't like jimmy Stewarts white face, as it projects into the grotesque, but he is a good actor non the less. collectable for anyone loving the circus. June 22, 2008

Great Movie

Hollywood no longer has the ability to produce movies of this caliber. The talent has been replaced by special effects for the most part. There are a few actors today who may measure up, Crow is one that comes to mind. Oscars are voted on by actors, so it is like a group of high school cheerleaders all voting to decide who is best this month. Anyone who is exposed to Hollywood knows it is very much about who knows you and not real talent and i am not an actor or involved in the industry in any way. Just have friends who are in it and i think Hollywood is dying.

The story line in this movie is wonderful. Lots of twists and turns, plus the circus theme keeps it interesting.
H May 14, 2008

Truly the Greatest Show On Earth

This is a wonderful film that shows circus life as it used to be. Cecil B. DeMille directed it and it is great. Too bad Paramount didn't think more about the film and present it in widescreen with 5.1 surround sound. Maybe they will redo it with Blu-Ray. Meanwhile this version is still a perfect transfer. It stars that crazy gal, Betty Hutton, (who recently died), as a trapeze artist. She competes with Cornell Wilde who is hired to replace her in the center ring. Famous clowns Emmett Kelly and Lou Jacobs are also featured. Lou was my favorite who I knew when I was a teenager. Real circus acts are featured in the film. There is a train wreck, that was a selling point for the filmed release. So realistic and before computer generated images. Charlton Heston is the head of the circus in his "first feature film" after his first film, "Peer Gynt." March 28, 2008

greatest show on earth

My husband and I really enjoy the older moveis. This just released and I bought it with the other items I purchased the same day. March 3, 2008

Great Entertainment

I saw this movie in 1952, believe it or not. I was five years old and my parents took me to see it because we really loved circuses. It has remained with me as a colorful and exciting view into the world of life under the big tent. Now I am showing it to my adult ESL students and they are eating it up! Overlook the little side plots that you don't like and concentrate on the fun and drama. M*A*S*H goes to the circus.

DeMille needed to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Big tent rivalry, a man who lives only for the life of the circus, Betty Hutton in love with two men, and Jimmy Stewart as a doctor on the lam hiding behind his greasepaint. Dorothy Lamour and Bob and Bing sitting in the bleachers eating popcorn. High wire act daredevilry. Emmet Kelly and clowns who fit in cars unbelievably small. It's all there, including the crooked side show and the jealous elephant handler. And an appearance by my favorite cowboy, Hoppalong Cassidy. I think it is a great movie for its entertainment value as well as the capture of a moment in American history when we really did send large three ring circuses around the country by train.
February 7, 2008

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