The Greatest Show on Earth

The Greatest Show on Earth (Original Title: The Greatest Show on Earth) is an American semi- documentary feature film from the year 1952.

Action

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is the largest circus companies in the United States. They travel with their show " The Greatest Show on Earth " from their winter home in Florida from across the United States.

But at the moment there are difficult times. The manager Brad Braden is dependent on a large main attraction, so as to obtain the approval of the sponsors for a full season. He committed the trapeze artist "The Great Sebastian". Against all sorts of concerns, because Sebastian is not only on the high wire, but also for women and has a large number so thus been done in many circus among the female workforce mess.

The circus breaks on the tour. Among the artists is also the clown buttons, who is also in his spare time, never seen without a mask, and what the circus no one else knows, with reason: Buttons is a former doctor who years ago his own, terminally ill woman illegal euthanasia made since then and is on the run from the police.

Thanks to Sebastian The tour will be a success, but this remains its reputation not owe not only in the air but also on the ground. He ensnared especially the young Holly, also trapeze artist and once Brad's friend, who for this season even hope had made on the main arena, but this had to vacate in favor of Sebastian. Between the two flares a rivalry with ever more daring feats. Here Sebastian is one day too cocky, hard crashes and falls out.

Besides this loss of its main attraction makes Brad also a competitor to worry who sends him a crook on the neck. This makes the Circus by fraud, theft, and finally to do with a raid on the cash register. Through the latter, it also comes at a severe collision of the two transport trains, whereby a large amount of the material is destroyed. But no one can thereby be discouraged, you initially created a temporary venue and is equal to the next ideas. Buttons is provided by the police, but Sebastian's arm, which had no feeling after the fall, recovers, and it can work as an acrobat again.

Background

The film is considered the circus film par excellence. DeMille filmed the show of the then largest circus in the United States. But he accompanied prior to filming the circus itself during a tour. In the film, the actual artist of the show occur. The story of the movie is embedded in a documentation of the circus life.

During some scenes with the actors who play during circus performances, however, is clear to see that these were recorded in the studio in front of a rear projection screen. James Stewart is seen throughout the film except for a photograph vorzeigt the prosecuting police officers in a short scene with clown mask in the role of clown buttons. In another short scene Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, at that time two top stars of the Paramount to discover among the circus spectators.

One of the villains of the film, the character played by Lyle Bettger morbidly jealous elephant tamer, who is called in the German version Carlo, is in the original version, a German named Klaus.

German version

The German synchronous processing in 1952 in the studios of the Berliner Synchron. The dialog book authored Erika Streithorst, synchronous directed by CW castle. The German premiere was on 25 December 1952.

Reviews

  • "(...) Very authentic atmosphere, opulent monumental show with a large cast of superstars; . exciting and colorful staged " ( Score: 3 out of 4 stars = very good) - Adolf Meier Heinzl and Berndt Schulz: Encyclopedia " Movies on TV ", 1990
  • " Hollywood circus film of bewildering variety and exhaustive length. ( ... ) For children under 14 not advisable. "- 6000 Movies 1963
  • " The advertised as the greatest film of all time circus epic film was shot with the greatest circus companies in the world. The many artistic performances holding together a sentimental and romantic action that is determined by the best motives of hatred, love, jealousy, rivalry, crime, nobility, tragedy and sacrifice. "- Lexicon of international film

Awards

The film won three Golden Globe Awards 1953 in the categories Best Film ( Drama ), Best Director and Best Cinematography ( color film ). He was nominated for the Academy Awards in 1953 for five Oscars and won in the categories of Best Film and Best Original Story.

1952 in film Cecil B. DeMille Screenplay Fredric M. Frank Film score Victor Young George Barnes (cinematographer) Peverell Marley Anne Bauchens Lion taming Gisela Trowe Wilhelm Borchert (actor) Martin Held Harry Giese Lawrence Tierney Brad Johnson (actor) Kurt Waitzmann O. E. Hasse 25th Academy Awards Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Story The Cheat (1915 film) Joan the Woman Why Change Your Wife? The Ten Commandments (1923 film) The Volga Boatman (film) Dynamite (film) The Sign of the Cross (film) Cleopatra (1934 film) The Buccaneer (1938 film) North West Mounted Police (film) Reap the Wild Wind The Story of Dr. Wassell Unconquered Samson and Delilah (1949 film)
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