- Film Review
- Reviewed By Tom Hutchinson
-
4 out of 5
This epic drama is, perhaps, not as great as its title would have us believe, though it did earn director Cecil B DeMille a best picture Oscar. On display is a jumbo-sized package of all the clichés that money can buy, as circus owner Charlton Heston strives to control the untamed emotions of Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde and Gloria Grahame. James Stewart gives the most original performance, playing a clown who, for reasons too complicated to explain, never takes off his make-up. As usual, DeMille megaphones his direction to let us know where we've been, where we are and where we're going, but this is marvellous entertainment, nevertheless.
Plot Summary
Cecil B DeMille's epic circus drama starring Charlton Heston and James Stewart. With a massive three-ring circus about to start a nationwide tour, tensions under the big top are running high.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Brad
- Charlton Heston
- Buttons, a clown
- James Stewart
- Holly
- Betty Hutton
- Phyllis
- Dorothy Lamour
- Sebastian
- Cornel Wilde
- Angel
- Gloria Grahame
- Klaus
- Lyle Bettger
- Henderson
- Lawrence Tierney
- Detective
- Henry Wilcoxon
- Harry
- John Kellogg
- Jack Steelman, assistant manager
- John Ridgely
- Circus doctor
- Frank Wilcox
- Ringmaster
- Bob Carson
- Buttons's mother
- Lillian Albertson
- Birdie
- Julia Faye
- Ann
- Gloria Drew
- Tony
- Anthony Marsh
- Bruce
- Bruce Cameron
- Noel
- Noel Neill
- Charmienne
- Charmienne Harker
- Dorothy
- Dorothy Crider
- Patricia
- Patricia Michon
- Vicki
- Vicki Bakken
- Gay
- Gay McEldowney
- Hugh
- Hugh Prosser
- Rus
- Rus Conklin
- Jack
- John Crawford
- Claude
- Claude Dunkin
- Keith
- Keith Richards (1)
- Rosemary
- Rosemary Dvorak
- Lorna
- Lorna Jordan
- Mona
- Mona Knox
- Gertrude
- Gertrude Messinger
- Spectator
- Bob Hope
- Spectator
- Bing Crosby
- Midway barker
- Edmond O'Brien
- Emmett
- Emmett Kelly
- Spectator
- Nancy Gates
- Hopalong Cassidy
- William Boyd (1)
- Narrator
- Cecil B DeMille
Crew
- Director
- Cecil B DeMille
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