The Big Circus main backdrop
The Big Circus main poster

The Big Circus

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6.5/10 • 14

1959-07-051h 49m

Drama

Hear the New Song Hit! "THE BIG CIRCUS"

A circus owner tries to keep his financially troubled circus on the road, despite the efforts of a murderous saboteur who has decided that the show must not go on.

Directors
Joseph M. Newman
Editors
Adrienne Fazan

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Victor Mature

    Victor Mature

    Henry Jasper 'Hank' Whirling

  2. Red Buttons

    Red Buttons

    Randy Sherman

  3. Rhonda Fleming

    Rhonda Fleming

    Helen Harrison

  4. Kathryn Grant

    Kathryn Grant

    Jeannie Whirling

  5. Vincent Price

    Vincent Price

    Hans Hagenfeld

  6. Gilbert Roland

    Gilbert Roland

    Zach Colino - the aerialist

  7. Peter Lorre

    Peter Lorre

    Skeeter

  8. David Nelson

    David Nelson

    Tommy Gordon

  9. Adele Mara

    Adele Mara

    Maria 'Mama' Colino

Reviews2

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Jul 8, 2019

7/10

Big-Top melodrama that's rich with easy on the eye formula. The Big Circus is directed by Joseph M. Newman and jointly written by Irwin Allen (who also produces) and Charles Bennett. It stars Victor Mature, Red Buttons, Rhonda Fleming, Kathryn Grant, Vincent Price and Peter Lorre. Plot sees Mature as Hank Whirling, the owner of The Whirling Circus, where, having seen his partner break away to form his own show, he finds he has to beg a loan off the bank to keep the Whirling show going. The bank agree to the loan but on condition that their financial whizz Randolph Sherman (Buttons) travels along with the show to keep an eye on the finances. He in turn hires publicity agent Helen Harrison (Fleming) to professionally sell the product, but both of them are not wanted by Whirling. However, there are more pressing concerns for the show, there is a saboteur at large and it seems whoever it is will stop at nothing to finish off the Circus. Looking for a Sunday afternoon time filler full of colour, vibrancy and delightful circus sequences? Then look no further than Irwin Allen's The Big Circus, an entertaining and tidy picture that seems to have been forgotten in the wake (fall out) of The Greatest Show On Earth. Making no bones about it, Allen follows the formula of the Cecil B. DeMille behemoth pretty much all the way, only the budget is considerably smaller so it obviously isn't as gargantuan as the 1952 Best Picture Winner. Fair to say there's some overacting, notably from Mature, but the mystery element is played close to the chest, with pretty much everyone under suspicion, and the high wire/trapeze antics are joyous. Nice cast, nice film and easy to recommend to the undemanding crowd. 6.5/10

Media

  • The Big Circus poster
  • The Big Circus poster
  • The Big Circus poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
circustrapeze