Review of Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962) by Paul D — 30 Sep 2010

An innocent pleasure, its nothing plot derived from a minor Broadway attraction: up until the introduction of dullo Boyd as a tightrope walker/love interest - and incidentally, it's no wonder some viewers have been keen to claim Day as a Sapphic icon, if this was the calibre of leading man the actress was obliged to pine for - it's basically a succession of skilful big-top turns set to pleasant, if not entirely memorable Rodgers and Hart songs; you'd think you'd know a number entitled "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", but it turns out you don't.

(And it's, well, all right, if hardly a match for Day pouring out "Little Girl Blue" to an empty tent.) It perks up whenever the elephant is on screen; the show, inevitably, goes on.