Review of The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) by Barry T — 05 Jan 2012

An unfortunately long film that holds a lot of potential as a kind of technicolor version of Freaks that focuses on the beautiful people. Its part documentary, part commercial and part melodrama. From one perspective its interesting to see how the circus was run in the 1950's.

I only ever went to the circus one time that I can remember and I found the segments of this film that show the high wire acts and animal tricks to be really engaging. Some real credit should go to the actors who put themselves through the physically demanding roles here.

Its a real shame that Jimmy Stewart's part as Buttons the clown is relegated to the background here. In a better movie the plot would be focused on him and the boring love plot line would be the B-story.

Occasionally thrilling, occasionally entertaining, never wholly satisfying. This is unfortunate because it is clear that Demille was truly interested in the world of the circus. When the movie really gets cooking it feels like you're being whisked out among the performers under the big top.

When it gets distracted you feel like you're just waiting for a better act to come along.