See also Release Dates|Official Sites|Company Credits|Filming & Production|Technical Specs The Greatest Show on Earth Details Full Cast and Crew Release Dates Lucy collected her $80,000 fee which helped support the couple as they embarked on a newly presented opportunity to do a weekly television situation comedy they developed for CBS called "I Love Lucy." Ringling Bros. hoped DeMille's filmwould restore the reputation of its circus following the devastating Big Top fire that killed at least 167 people in Hartford, Connecticut in 1944. [7], The film earned $12.8 million[8] at the box office in the United States and Canada, making it the highest-grossing film of 1952, as well as Paramount's most successful film to that time. As an eleventh-hour replacement in this film, the role of Angel was, comparatively, a lark for Grahame, who spouts sassy dialogue originally written with Ball and/or Goddard in mind. Hope, Crosby, and Lamour famously co-starred in the Road to Singapore (1940), Road to Morocco (1942), Road to Utopia (1945) and several other "Road" pictures. (While 2017'sThe Greatest Showmandramatizes the horrific fire, its wounds and notoriety were too fresh for DeMille to depict it, soThe Greatest Show on Earthsubstitutes a massive circus train wreck instead. (1955) three years later. This movie won one Oscar. The Greatest Show on Earth (film) (1952), an American drama film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The greatest problem occurred when the large cage of monkeys was opened. He later regretted this decision, considering it one of the worst mistakes in his career. Robert J. Wilke nel 1963. While a multi-channel mix would really put us in the thick of the action, this potent 2.0 mono track more than suffices. Phyllis: Why is it whenever he's around I'm all wet? During one of the performances, a furious Klaus threatens to have an elephant step on Angel rather than let her go to another man. If you are already a subscriber sign up registration is free! Ensemble Dark Horse: The German sisters with the head balancing act who keep swooning over Sebastian have little plot prominence or dialogue but are pretty popular performers. ancient slogan: "The more you spend, the more you make." The snarls, roars, and squeals of the animals are crisp, all the human dialogue is easy to comprehend, and no age-related hiss, pops, or crackle intrude. He also depicts the mesmerized, popcorn-chomping patrons, a few of whom are Hollywood stars (look for Bing Crosby and Bob Hope enraptured by their Roadfilms co-star Dorothy Lamour as she performs a song), and provides more than a taste of many of the thrilling and garish acts that perform in the iconic three rings under the gargantuan Big Top tent. Cecil B. DeMille advised the writers to view the German film Variety (1925) as a model for the type of story he wanted. Hilarious in Hindsight: There's a man named Harry who works for a mob boss named Mr. Henderson. Brad now realizes how much he loves Holly, but she now has no time for him because the show must continue. The unsolved crime Buttons the clown was wanted for, was for killing his ailing wife. [9] It was also the most popular film in Britain in 1952[10] and the most popular film of the year in France in 1953. The Greatest Show on Earth 1952 Passed 2 h 32 m IMDb RATING 6.6 /10 15K YOUR RATING Rate Play trailer 6:54 1 Video 75 Photos Drama Family Romance The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle. Cornel Wilde plays Sebastian, who is referred to as a "high-flying peacock". Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies. "[16], In 2005, The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst included The Greatest Show on Earth. This film shows a behind-the-scenes look into circus life that most people would never have a chance to see. Brad bargains to keep the circus on the road as long as it makes a profit, thus keeping the 1,400 performers and roustabouts employed. Though Gloria Grahame returned to drama with twelve hard-hitting performances following this film, it was her acerbic performance in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) that led Rodgers and Hammerstein to personally select her to portray Ado Annie Carnes in the film version of Oklahoma! Now he is 23 and a graduate student at Stanford University. Train wreck scene "The Greatest Show on Earth" - Movie Photo Condition: -- "shi507" Price: US $17.67 Add to cart Best Offer: Make Offer Add to Watchlist Returns accepted Ships from United States Shipping: US $5.00Standard Shipping | See details Located in: Barnegat, New Jersey, United States Delivery: By creative designer. 5302 saw quite a bit of service until 1940 when it went into storage while I explored the work possibilities of Chicago for two years and then off to California. Top-rated Plus. He casually observes that Gregory will be taking fingerprints at the next stop, so Buttons can escape and lay low if he wishes. The paucity of extras is also disappointing, but it's wonderful to see this noteworthy DeMille movie finally get a Blu-ray release. With the help of a few generous friends I was able to complete this engine in 14 months with a total expenditure of $75.00. Gloria Grahame, Nicholas Ray's wife, who had an affair with an elephant trainer, was tailed by her husband who wanted to catch the both, she and her lover. The film premiered at the Florida Theater (now the Sarasota Opera House) in Sarasota, Florida. Paramount worked hard to smooth out the visible borders outlining the actors inThe Ten Commandments, but no attempts have been made to soften or mitigate the green and black lines hugging the actors' frames inThe Greatest Show on Earth. vertical_align_top. It's been theorized the Academy made the safe choice of honoring DeMille and The Greatest Show on Earthrather than make waves by celebratingHigh Noon, which paints a thinly veiled portrait of the betrayal, isolation, fear, and paranoia that characterize the McCarthy era. Betty Hutton and Wilde had to learn how to fly on the trapeze for their scenes. The presentation was filmed and shown on a newsreel. "[20] In 2013, the selection of The Greatest Show on Earth rather than High Noon was listed by Time among the 10 most controversial Best Picture races. Buttons gives his dog to a child, and leaves with Gregory to face an unknown fate. It's not until the thwarted Klaus (Lyle Bettger) realizes to his horror that Angel (Gloria Grahame) is on board the train that the audience can begin to intuit what's about to occur. As the tale progresses, romantic entanglements, raging jealousies, and festering resentments all come to a head and threaten not only the principals, but also the entire circus infrastructure. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and By creating an account, you agree to the In a day of skintight budgets and rigid shooting schedules, Cecil B. His father took him to the theater, promising him a trip to the circus. Coming upon her final film obligation Cohn learned of Lucy's offer to appear in "Greatest Show." Along with the feature film, the Blu-Ray disc includes the following extra: Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on The Greatest Show on Earth (7:42) - Here, Leonard talks about director Cecil B. DeMille, how the actors did . He was seriously afraid of heights. the right touchand the box-office returns justified his little The role of Buttons the Clown is inarguably one of the finest portrayals in James Stewart's canon, as it required the versatility of broad slapstick, singing, trampoline work, as well as a dual believability at different points of the script as both a clown and a fine doctor, which merge simultaneously in the chilling, heart-wrenching moment the clown shares with his mother in the audience mid-performance. Whether any of that is true remains open for debate, but it's an interesting perspective, especially when one considers the kitschy nature ofThe Greatest Show on Earthwhen compared with the intelligence and gravitas that defineHigh Noon. 3004. From the first scene onward, very noticeable imperfections plague the picture. James Stewart also stars as a mysterious clown who never removes his makeup, and Dorothy Lamour and Gloria Grahame also play supporting roles. The footage still resides in the Paramount film library. Photo provided by Jordan Austin Karasek, great-grandson of L.E. His scene with Buttons' mother (memorably played by Lillian Albertson) is a real tearjerker, and Stewart strikes the perfect tone as he crafts one of the movie's most memorable moments. It would mark Grahame's only performance in a musical. The Miniature Locomotive, November-December 1954. Paramount heralds this 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer as "newly restored from a 4K scan of the original negative,"and the lush, vibrant color, exceptional clarity and contrast, and glorious film-like appearance reflect the care that went into it, butif you're going to restore an almost 70-year-old classic, you need to go the whole nine yards. Another Best Picture nominee, High Noon, was produced by Carl Foreman, who would soon appear on the Hollywood blacklist, and one of the scriptwriters of Ivanhoe, Marguerite Roberts, was also blacklisted. Heston says that the late-arriving actors then got the message. The plot involves thr illing circus acts, a spectacular train wreck and a breathtaking high wire act plus the trials of life on the road. The sequence remains a technical marvel and shows the heroics and resilience of the circus personnel, who adopt an inspiring "the-show-must-go-on" attitude despite the destruction, injury, and mayhem.). . Free shipping for many products! Buttons gives Brad a direct transfusion from Sebastian, who has the same rare blood type; Gregory assists him, and afterwards reluctantly arrests him, telling him "you're all right". Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth is a lavish tribute to circuses, featuring three intertwining plotlines concerning romance and rivalry beneath the big top. Size Product Type; 11 . This was especially true for Betty Hutton and Cornel Wilde. The only extra on the disc is a new eight-minute featurette presented in high definition. Circleville Pumpkin Show | Circleville, Ohio 43113 Poster. Film debut of Monie Ellis and Vicki Bakken. Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille: Cast: Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, James Stewart, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Lawrence Tierney, Gloria Grahame: The Greatest Show on Earth $2.99 Playback Region 2 : This will not play on most DVD players sold in the U.S., U.S. The great showman Cecil B. DeMille produced and directed this splashy, colorful look at life under the big top. I don't look at a film to rate the acting, but rather I look at a film for its entertainment qualities. The simians were so frightened of the lions and tigers that they panicked and fled the building, ending up in the adjoining Hollywood Cemetery. $25.13. DeMillie had originally offered Lucille Ball the role of Angel. Later upon meeting DeMille at a party Desi was told by the famed producer that congratulations was in order as Desi had, as DeMille put it, "screwed his wife, Harry Cohn and Columbia Pictures and Cecil B. DeMille all in one shot.". L.E. If you buy this item, expect a delay in shipping. Updated daily and in real-time, we track all high-def disc news and release dates, and review the latest disc titles. The climactic trainwreck sequence remains one of the most revered set pieces in Hollywood history, primarily due to the emotional impact it provides, thanks to its sheer unexpectedness. The Great Sebastian, The Greatest Show on Earth: Official Clip - They Made It, The Greatest Show on Earth: Official Clip - Clowns Only Love Once, The Greatest Show on Earth: Official Clip - Be a Jumping Jack, The Greatest Show on Earth: Official Clip - Train Wreck, The Greatest Show on Earth: Official Clip - The Great Sebastian Arrives, The Greatest Show on Earth: Official Clip - The Great Sebastian Falls, The Greatest Show on Earth: Official Clip - The Circus. In addition to the actors, the real Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's Circus' 1951 troupe appears in the film with its complement of 1,400 people, hundreds of animals and 60 railroad cars of equipment and tents. Some have dubbedThe Greatest Show on Earthone of the least deserving Best Picture Oscar winners of all time (more on that below), but after watching it recently for the first time in many years, I must grudgingly admit that despite its excessive length, shameless overacting, and meandering, melodramatic screenplay, the film evokes the fervent spirit of the circus, captures the sense of child-like wonder it inspires, and keeps us engrossed throughout most of its 152-minute running time. A leaflet containing a digital copy code is tucked inside the front cover. . This offers an explanation as to why the marvelous Jean Hagen went home empty-handed, despite her iconic performance as the hilariously doomed Lina Lamont in Singin' in the Rain (1952). The program ran on Tuesday evenings for 30 episodes on ABC during the 19631964 season. Buttons quotes Oscar Wilde's 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol'. By FrozenMistress. 2019 TIME USA, LLC. Cecil B. 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