The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) | |
| Director(s) | Cecil B. DeMille |
| Producer(s) | Cecil B. DeMille, Henry Wilcoxon (associate) |
| Top Genres | Drama, Family, Romance |
| Top Topics | Circus, Romance (Drama), Show Business |
Featured Cast:
The Greatest Show on Earth Overview:
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) was a Drama - Family Film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and produced by Cecil B. DeMille and Henry Wilcoxon.
SYNOPSIS
A dazzling, only-by-DeMille spectacle focusing on life with a traveling three-ring circus. Stewart appears in an unfamiliar guise as a clown hiding from his past (as a doctor!), and there is romance and adventure under this big top, too. Look for many guest appearances. DeMille went all out recreating the color and pageantry of the circus, even traveling with Barnum and Bailey to learn the rhythms of big-top life.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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Academy Awards 1952 --- Ceremony Number 25 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Costume Design | Edith Head, Dorothy Jeakins, Miles White | Nominated |
| Best Director | Cecil B. DeMille | Nominated |
| Best Film Editing | Anne Bauchens | Nominated |
| Best Picture | Cecil B. DeMille, Producer | Won |
| Best Writing | Fredric M. Frank, Theodore St. John, Frank Cavett | Won |
BlogHub Articles:
The Greatest Show on Earth ( 1952 )
By The Metzinger Sisters on Nov 19, 2016 From Silver Scenes - A Blog for Classic Film LoversFor Cecil B. DeMille there was no such thing as a regular feature film...it always had to be a spectacle. Circus films were a dime a dozen in the 1930s, but none of them really captured that thrill of seeing a circus in person. A circus was meant to be a spectacle, and the circus itself had to tak... Read full article
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
By Beatrice on Sep 16, 2015 From Flickers in TimeThe Greatest Show on Earth Directed by Cecil B. De Mille Written by Written by Fredric M. Frank, Barr? Lyndon, and Theodore St. John; story by Frank, St. John, and Frank Cavett 1952/USA Paramount Pictures First viewing/Netflix rental I will cut this movie some slack for the circus acts and Jimmy ... Read full article
Classic Films in Focus: THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952)
By Jennifer Garlen on Sep 21, 2012 From Virtual ViragoCritics often deride The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) as one of the worst Best Picture winners in Oscar history, but Cecil B. DeMille’s elaborate circus spectacle deserves a better reputation among classic movie fans. Yes, High Noon is the better film, but the blame for choosing the safer pic... Read full article
Classic Films in Focus: THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952)
By Jennifer Garlen on Sep 21, 2012 From Virtual ViragoCritics often deride The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) as one of the worst Best Picture winners in Oscar history, but Cecil B. DeMille’s elaborate circus spectacle deserves a better reputation among classic movie fans. Yes, High Noon is the better film, but the blame for choosing the safer pic... Read full article
Classic Films in Focus: THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952)
By Jennifer Garlen on Sep 21, 2012 From Virtual ViragoCritics often deride The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) as one of the worst Best Picture winners in Oscar history, but Cecil B. DeMille’s elaborate circus spectacle deserves a better reputation among classic movie fans. Yes, High Noon is the better film, but the blame for choosing the safer pic... Read full article
See all The Greatest Show on Earth articles
Quotes from
[Holly and Sebastian are one-upping each other on the trapeze]
Buttons: How long do you think this can go on before something happens?
Brad Braden: It's circus, isn't it?
Buttons: Do you believe in prayer?
Brad Braden: And practice.
Angel: [Sebastian almost drives his car into the elephant Angel is riding] Hey! Don't crowd, mister! Can't you see an elephant or do I have to paint her red?
Sebastian: I was blinded by the memory of a beautiful night in Paris.
Angel: [to the other circus performers] Blow up your water wings, girls, here comes the big wave!
[to Sebastian]
Angel: How come no husband ever shot you?
Sebastian: I never offer a sitting target.
Angel: I thought I'd seen the last of you when you got mixed up with that wire walker in Lisbon.
Sebastian: You will never see the last of me, Angel.
Klaus: ANGEL!
Angel: That will be arranged when you meet Klaus.
read more quotes from The Greatest Show on Earth...
Facts about
Merrill Reese: Circus spectator (Best known as the radio broadcaster for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1977-present, Reese was an unknown nine year old who happened to be at one of the filmed performances.)
Bing Crosby, Bob Hope: Circus spectators during the musical song "Lovely, Luawana Lady", approximately two minutes after the song starts.
read more facts about The Greatest Show on Earth...
