The Greatest Show on Earth main backdrop
The Greatest Show on Earth main poster

The Greatest Show on Earth

Visit website

6.3/10 • 243

1952-02-162h 32m

DramaRomance

The Heartbeat Story of Circus People, Filmed with the Cooperation of Ringling Bros. - Barnum and Bailey Circus!

To ensure a full profitable season, circus manager Brad Braden engages The Great Sebastian, though this moves his girlfriend Holly from her hard-won center trapeze spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a dangerous one-upmanship duel in the ring, while he pursues her on the ground.

Directors
Cecil B. DeMille
Editors
Anne Bauchens

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Betty Hutton

    Betty Hutton

    Holly

  2. Cornel Wilde

    Cornel Wilde

    The Great Sebastian

  3. Charlton Heston

    Charlton Heston

    Brad Braden

  4. Dorothy Lamour

    Dorothy Lamour

    Phyllis

  5. Gloria Grahame

    Gloria Grahame

    Angel

  6. James Stewart

    James Stewart

    Buttons

  7. Henry Wilcoxon

    Henry Wilcoxon

    FBI Agent Gregory

  8. Lyle Bettger

    Lyle Bettger

    Klaus

  9. Lawrence Tierney

    Lawrence Tierney

    Mr. Henderson

Reviews2

View Reviews
Wuchak Avatar

Wuchak

Mar 15, 2020

8/10

Delivers the goods for what it is — a big traditional circus flick Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus hires a popular Casanova trapeze artist, The Great Sabastian (Cornel Wilde), in order to keep their tour schedule full and he wastes no time romancing his rival for the center ring, Holly (Betty Hutton), who’s in love with the solemn manager (Charlton Heston). But, wait, Angel, the elephant babe (Gloria Grahame), is also in love with the boss man! Meanwhile, the resident clown has a secret past (Jimmy Stewart) and Dorothy Lamour is on hand as a performer. A Cecil B. DeMille production, “The Greatest Show on Earth” (1952) is infamous for winning the Best Picture award above “High Noon” and “The Quiet Man” (and maybe also “Singin’ in the Rain,” which actually wasn’t a huge hit when it was released). I think these critics might be jealous, however, in light of the fact that “The Greatest Show on Earth” was hugely successful with audiences and made 4.5 times as much at the box office compared to “High Noon” and “The Quiet Man.” How much a person appreciates this movie no doubt comes down to whether or not they like the traditional circus and everything that goes with it, but their approval will also rest on if they can appreciate quaint melodrama and the corresponding hammy acting (think “Gone with the Wind”). I was able to acclimate and really enjoyed the picture. There’s constant circus entertainment, of course, but the drama behind the scenes also hooks the viewer, over-the-top though it may be. There’s also an impressive train wreck in the last act. Underneath it all is a welcome warm heart. Of the three women in the main cast, Betty Hutton is the fittest and has the most screen time, but Gloria Grahame is the most alluring, followed by Dorothy Lamour. If you favor circus movies, like the great “Water for Elephants” (2011), you’ll probably appreciate this one, as long as you can adjust to the dated style. The film runs 2 hours, 32 minutes, and was shot in Sarasota, Florida, and Paramount, Hollywood. GRADE: B+/A-

Media

  • The Greatest Show on Earth poster
  • The Greatest Show on Earth poster
  • The Greatest Show on Earth poster
  • The Greatest Show on Earth poster
  • The Greatest Show on Earth poster
  • The Greatest Show on Earth poster
  • The Greatest Show on Earth poster
  • The Greatest Show on Earth poster
  • The Greatest Show on Earth poster

Recommendations

  • Bend of the River main backdrop

    Bend of the River

    6.9

  • From Here to Eternity main backdrop

    From Here to Eternity

    7.3

  • Hamlet main backdrop

    Hamlet

    7.4

  • A Scene at the Sea main backdrop

    A Scene at the Sea

    7.4

  • The Hitch-Hiker main backdrop

    The Hitch-Hiker

    6.8

  • The Caddy main backdrop

    The Caddy

    6.5

  • Viva Zapata! main backdrop

    Viva Zapata!

    6.9

  • The Great Ziegfeld main backdrop

    The Great Ziegfeld

    6.2

  • The Bells of St. Mary's main backdrop

    The Bells of St. Mary's

    6.8

  • The Quiet Man main backdrop

    The Quiet Man

    7.3

  • An American in Paris main backdrop

    An American in Paris

    7.0

  • The African Queen main backdrop

    The African Queen

    7.3

  • Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog main backdrop

    Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog

    7.8

  • The Young Victoria main backdrop

    The Young Victoria

    7.2

  • My Fair Lady main backdrop

    My Fair Lady

    7.5

  • To Catch a Thief main backdrop

    To Catch a Thief

    7.3

  • The Lizzie McGuire Movie main backdrop

    The Lizzie McGuire Movie

    6.3

  • Roman Holiday main backdrop

    Roman Holiday

    7.9

  • Planet of the Apes main backdrop

    Planet of the Apes

    7.7

  • Longlegs main backdrop

    Longlegs

    6.7

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$4,000,000.00
Revenue
$36,000,000.00
Keywords
circusclowntraveling circustrapeze artist