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)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Costume DesignEdith Head, Dorothy Jeakins, Miles WhiteNominated
Best DirectorCecil B. DeMilleNominated
Best Film EditingAnne BauchensNominated
Best PictureCecil B. DeMille, ProducerWon
Best WritingFredric M. Frank, Theodore St. John, Frank CavettWon
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BlogHub Articles:

The Greatest Show on Earth ( 1952 )

By The Metzinger Sisters on Nov 19, 2016 From Silver Scenes - A Blog for Classic Film Lovers

For 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 Time

The 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 Virago

Critics 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 Virago

Critics 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 Virago

Critics 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


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Quotes from

Holly: [Very frustrated] I send Angel for a doctor and she comes back with an *elephant*!
Angel: [Filled with sarcasm] You better let Birdie bandage up the pixie if you want to say good bye to our boyfriend!
Holly: [Horrified] Brad!


Klaus: You always have a smile for that high-flying peacock.
Angel: Well, what do you want me to do, cry over him?


Buttons: Clowns are funny people, they only love once.
Holly: All men aren't that way, even if they act like clowns.


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Facts about

Although the film was shot in 35mm three-strip Technicolor, Paramount did shoot some test footage on the set using its newly developed wide-screen process Vistavision which ran 35mm film horizontally through the camera, exposing two standard frames, eight perforations wide. The footage still resides in the Paramount film library.
Lucille Ball was Cecil B. DeMille's first choice for "Angel", but she became pregnant and was replaced by Gloria Grahame. Paulette Goddard also campaigned strongly for the role but was turned down owing to her reluctance to perform stunt scenes.
Diana Lynn: Circus spectator
read more facts about The Greatest Show on Earth...
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Best Picture Oscar 1952






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