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Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame ... see more see more... , James Stewart , Henry Wilcoxon , Lyle Bettger , Lawrence Tierney , Emmett Kelly Jr. , Antoinette Concello , John Ringling North , John Kellogg , John Ridgely , Frank Wilcox , Bob Carson , Lillian Albertson , Julia Faye , Lee Aaker , Dorothy Adams , Stanley Andrews , Iphigenie Castiglioni , Lane Chandler , Ken Christy , Davison Clark , Lydia Clarke , Riccardo Cucciolla , Lester Dorr , Jimmie Dundee , Norman Field , Bess Flowers , Kathleen Freeman , Mona Freeman , Nancy Gates , Everett Glass , Greta Granstedt , Brad Hatton , Lou Jacobs , Brad Johnson , Milt Kibbee , Fred Kohler Jr. , Ethan Laidlaw , Anthony Marsh , John Merton , Noel Neill , Ottola Nesmith , David Newell , John Parrish , Hugh Prosser , Sid Saylor , Robert St. Angelo , Dale Van Sickel , Beverly Washburn , Josephine Whittell , Felix Adler , Mary Field , William "Hopalong" Boyd , Gertrude Messenger , Howard Negley , Mona Knox , William Hall , Bruce Cameron , Russ Conklin , Charmienne Harker , Herbert C. Lytton , Clarence Nash , John Crawford , Claude Dunkin , Dolores Hall , Lorna Jordan , Erik Nelson , Ross Bagdasarian Sr. , Keith Richards (II) , Cucciola , Tuffy Genders , Keith Richards (I)

Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth is a lavish tribute to circuses, featuring three intertwining plotlines concerning romance and rivalry beneath the big top. DeMille's film includes specta... read more read more...cular action sequences, including a show-stopping train wreck. The Greatest Show on Earth won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Story. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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22 critics

R, 2 hr. 29 min.

Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille

Release Date: February 21, 1952

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DVD Release Date: April 6, 2004

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The Greatest Show on Earth The Greatest Show on Earth James Stewart, Cornel Wilde and Charlton Heston James Stewart, Cornel Wilde, Betty Hutton,Charlton Heston and Gloria Grahame DeMille on the set The Greatest Show on Earth
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Flixster Reviews (315)

  • cosmo313
    February 23, 2012
    cosmo313
    Directed by the legendary helmer of epics Mr. Cecil B. DeMille, this star-studded spectacle which takes a look at the cicrcus world during the golden age of rail-traveling circuses has garnered a reputation over the years for being a big stinkbomb, and one of the worst films to w... read morein the Oscar for Best Picture.

    I will admit that the film really isn't all that great ,and that it didn't really deserve the top honors, but ya know what? It really isn't quite that bad, and it's reputation over the years is rather unfair. Oh sure, it is junk, but at least it's watchable junk.

    The subject matter is fine, and this film isn't without its redeeming qualities, but it has plenty of issues as well. The main focus is on three interconnected storylines, all of which involve circus performers, love triangles, and various struggles to keep everything running smoothly despite all the drama.

    The film is overlong, and defintiely in need of some serious trimming and tigtening up. It's also rather silly, cheeky, and somewhat dated. A fair amount of the acting is rather over the top, and at the times the film really descends into being a soap operish melodrama, but it is quite fun, and actually finds a way to not be boring.

    Where the film really shines is in the great stuntwork, circus act perforances, and some great setpieces. There's even a train crash, which, while coming off as pretty phony now, is still decently done and entertaining. De Mille was rather insistent on making the actors do much of their own stunt work, and he employed real members of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circuses to serve as extras, consultants, and to help the actors be more authentic. It's mostly works. I mentioned some of the acting could have been better, but it's not all bad.

    Charleton Heston stars as the big boss Brad BRaden, a no-nonsense guy who has a lot of things to deal with in order to ensure that things run smoothly and that the show goes on. The great Lawrence Tierney has a small role as a shadowy underworld figure named Henderson who has his sights set on taking control of Brad's operations. In probably the film's best role though, we get Jimmy Stewart as an enigmatic clown named Buttons.

    All in all, this film is a mess, but it's not quite as bad as it gets made out to be. I am somewhat inflating my grade, but that's mostly because the film does have a lot of good stuff going on. I wouldn't have minded if there would have been a lot more depth and subtext, as well as some darker moments, but unfortunately Darren Aronofsky and Christopher Nolan weren't directing here. It'd be cool if either of them did something like this though, cuz you can bet the results would be quite awesome.

    So yeah, it is flawed and it's more hollow fluff and spectacle than anything else, but I wasn't ever bored, and, it didn't deserve Best Picture, but there's plenty other wnners of the top prize that are far worse than this.
  • fb1341085175
    October 4, 2011
    fb1341085175
    Para as gerações mais recentes, quando o circo é mencionado a primeira relação que deve ser feita é com os espetáculos pirotécnicos e acrobáticos de grupos como o Cirque Du Soleil. Para gerações passadas, as imagens relacionadas ao circo são de inocência e nostalgia: o grande esp... read moreetáculo chegando à cidade, filas enormes de famílias agrupadas para terem a chance de ver um leão ou um tigre de verdade, crianças com a boca cheia de algodão doce e a grande lona abrigando palhaços e malabaristas. Apesar da atual decadência da arte circense, é este tipo de espetáculo que O Maior Espetáculo da Terra nos remete, de uma época onde o circo à moda antiga era uma grande atração. O filme foi dirigido pelo grande Cecil B. DeMille, conhecido por seus épicos grandiosos como Sansão e Dalila e Os Dez Mandamentos. Apesar de fugir do cenário bíblico de época, O Maior Espetáculo da Terra pertence à mesma categoria de filme espetáculo (como o próprio título diz) dos outros dois. De fato, ele foi popular o bastante na época para ganhar o Oscar de Melhor Filme de 1952, algo que hoje é considerado um dos maiores erros da Academia.

    Acompanhado de uma pomposa narração feita pelo próprio DeMille, somos apresentados a uma equipe do circo Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Brad Braden (Charlton Heston) é o durão gerente do circo que vive pelo seu trabalho ("Você tem serragem nas veias" lhe dizem). Ele convence os chefões do espetáculo que este deve se apresentar por uma temporada completa, para a alegria de seus integrantes. Entre estes encontramos Holly (Betty Hutton), a trapezista da equipe que tem um flerte amoroso com Brad, e o palhaço Buttons (James Stewart), que apesar de ser adorado por todos possui um passado misterioso. Brad comunica que, para aumentar a popularidade do circo, irá contratar o Grande Sebastian (Coronel Wilde), um trapezista cuja fama deve assegurar a venda de ingressos. Holly, que estava disposta a se apresentar no picadeiro central, não se agrada com a idéia de ter de dividir a atenção do público, se mostrando disposta a fazer de tudo para ser o núcleo dos aplausos. O que ela não contava é que ela iria cair sob o charme de Sebastian, e enquanto os dois travam uma batalha no picadeiro, Holly também tem que cuidar para não deixar Brad ser encantado por sua rival Angel (Gloria Grahame).

    Com um enredo tão simples e em vezes até medíocre, é uma surpresa que O Maior Espetáculo da Terra também tenha ganhado o Oscar de Melhor História (precursor do prêmio de Melhor Roteiro Original). O melodramático triângulo amoroso parece ser apenas uma desculpa para unir todas as inumeráveis cenas de picadeiro, com os rasos personagens recebendo pouca atenção, especialmente o palhaço interpretado por James Stewart que tinha o potencial para se tornar o mais interessante deles. Charlton Heston aparece em seu primeiro papel de destaque e divide a atenção da heroína com o canastrão Coronel Wilde. Seu Brad Braden é o único personagem que parece realmente ser apaixonado pelo seu trabalho no circo - ainda que esta paixão seja mais de um ponto de vista administrativo e megalomaníaco do que artístico, e de uma condição do roteiro do que da atuação do ator. Quanto ao resto dos personagens, eles são apresentados como trabalhadores e esforçados, mas não existe entre eles a preocupação de criar a mágica e a ilusão do circo. Todos seus interesses parecem ser meramente interessados nos olhso do público (ao menos até os momentos finais), como Holly e seu desejo de ocupar o picadeiro central. Por não entrar ilustrar melhor tais detalhes e por fugir de mostrar a hierarquia entre os profissionais por trás da grande lona, O Maior Espetáculo da Terra falha ao tentar apresentar uma visão dos bastidores da vida circense.

    Como já mencionado, a produção se destaca na categoria de "cinema espetáculo", e sua maior intenção parece ser apresentar o circo na tela grande. Intercalado em meio ao ralo enredo (ou seria ao contrário) são diversas cenas em que vemos o mundo circense ganhar vida em "glorioso Technicolor". Em uma enorme parada de cores e vestuários suntuosos, vemos trapezistas saltando sobre a platéia, carros alegóricos cruzando o picadeiro e até mesmo alguns números musicais. Feito em associação com o verdadeiro circo Barnum and Bailey, o filme se destaca no quesito de produção, dando uma autêntica ilusão de como era um espetáculo circense da época (ao menos um de alto orçamento). De fato, DeMille parece tão preocupado com a sedução visual que a maior parte da exagerada duração do filme (152 minutos) é gasta com tais cenas. Para criar alguma tensão nos momentos finais, um personagem surge do nada afim de alguns problemas para o grupo, mas tudo soa apenas como mais uma manobra calculada do roteiro.

    Apesar de não ser um filme verdadeiramente ruim, o fato de ter ganhado o Oscar de Melhor Filme colocou O Maior Espetáculo da Terra na posição número um de várias listas de "piores filmes a terem ganhado o Oscar". Ainda que tais afirmações sejam sempre discutíveis dependendo da ótica sob a qual o filme é analisado, a produção de DeMille é um deleite aos olhos como um picadeiro colorido, mas oco como uma lona vazia. Para melhores filmes ambientados no mundo circense, procure O Circo de Charles Chaplin, Monstros de Tod Browning ou até mesmo Dumbo de Walt Disney.
  • deano
    December 17, 2009
    deano
    The 1952 Oscar winner for best picture succeeds in the same manner as its subject, the circus; it's enjoyable family entertainment. Three major stories of backstage circus life all work and blend well in this film.
  • stormyweather980
    September 13, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Wow, can't believe the negative ratings this movie's getting. Sure, the love story part of the plot is a bit overbearing at times, but to watch all the acrobats and the circus!! I've only ever been to one circus, but this makes me want to go back to one as soon as I can, and I lo... read moreved the movie altogether. Take your bad ratings with you when you go, and while I go to the circus. Very deserving movie.
  • fernandorafael
    June 27, 2009
    fernandorafael
    Although I've only seen 22 of them, I seriously doubt "The Greatest Show on Earth" is the worst "Best Picture" Oscar winner ever.

    TGSOE only suffers from a slightly long running time and some overacting by Betty Hutton and Charlton Heston. The rest is really fun and enjoyable... read more, just as the circus should be.

    Solid work by the cast and director DeMille, as well as a very special appearance by the great Jimmy Stewart.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 15, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A circus which has every cool act imaginable. It gets a bit soap-operish.
  • garyX
    March 3, 2007
    garyX
    Films about circuses are invariably rubbish, and this is no exception. Clumsy melodramatic soap opera that's wall-to-wall cliches. Only James Stewart's enigmatic clown piques any interest at all.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    So cool...
  • staindslaved
    March 10, 2012
    staindslaved
    The Greatest Show on Earth also released as The Big Top is a heavy melodrama that suffers from a ridiculously unnecessary run-time, cliches and mostly uninteresting characters, with the exception of James Stewart's melancholy clown Buttons. The film has great art direction and s... read morehowcases many grand sequences with circus acts and exotic animals. Once upon a time the film was a major audience pleaser but today it is ridiculed largely for winning best picture at the Academy Awards when it clearly didn't even warrant a nomination. After 60 years the film is still a worthwhile watch that can be enjoyed even by new more cynical audiences who are willing to give it a fair chance.
  • simeondeutsch1
    October 22, 2010
    simeondeutsch1
    Despite being an ostentatious and colorful production, Cecil B. Demille's Oscar Winning circus extravaganza begs you not o watch it with pungent melodrama, glacial pacing, and awful direction. Easily the worst movie to ever win Best Picture. 32/100

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Critic Reviews

February 18, 2009
TIME Magazine

The movie's plot does not quite hold all this pageantry together, but De Mille's scripters and actors enter into the thing in the proper flamboyant spirit. Full Review

Herb Golden
January 28, 2008
Herb Golden, Variety

This is the circus with more entertainment, more thrills, more spangles and as much Big Top atmosphere as RB-B&B itself can offer. It's a smash certainty for high-wire grosses. Full Review

Pat Graham
December 12, 2006
Pat Graham, Chicago Reader

It won best-picture Oscar for 1952, but God (De Mille's favorite walk-on, strangely absent here) only knows why. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Two American institutions have combined to put out a piece of entertainment that will delight movie audiences for years. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 24, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Middling circus backstage drama. Full Review

December 12, 2006
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It's big, it's garish, it's loud, and most of all, it's wonderful. Full Review

Wesley Lovell
October 31, 2006
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

A Soap Opera under the big top, The Greatest Show on Earth features little in the way of a plot and more in the line of a hollow spectacle. Full Review

Steve Crum
July 21, 2006
Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

Fun DeMille full of spectacle and flashy stars...and a great train wreck.

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Characteristically elephantine Big Top epic from DeMille, thumped across with a winning brashness and garnering the veteran showman his first Best Picture Oscar. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
December 22, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

One of the worst films to ever win the Best Picture Oscar, Cecil B. DeMille's melodramatic circus adventure starring Jimmy Stewart and Charlton Heston inexplicably won the writing award (the called Mo... Full Review

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The Greatest Show on Earth Trivia

  • In the film The Greatest Show on Earth, during Dorothy Lamour's arial act, what frequent co-stars are shown in the audience?  Answer »
  • What legendary director links the films "Cleopatra", "The Ten Commandments", "The Greatest Show on Earth", "Madame Satan" and "Samson and Delilah"?  Answer »
  • In the 1956 film "The Greatest Show On Earth" was the train wreck based on a true story?  Answer »
  • This movie won the only Best Picture Academy Award for Cecile B DeMille, many feel more out of sentiment for DeMille than for the actual quality of the picture.  Answer »
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