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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).

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
See More Oscar Winners

The Greatest Show on Earth 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, Barré 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

See More The Greatest Show on Earth Articles

The Greatest Show on Earth Quotes:

Klaus: You always have a smile for that high-flying peacock.
Angel: Well, what do you want me to do, cry over him?
Angel: Listen, sugar, the only way that you can keep me warm is to wrap me up in a marriage license.
Klaus: Your legs are too thin, your hair is too red, you have lips like a cat. You're no good. You give me too much trouble.
Angel: Flattery rolls right off me.
Angel: Did he say you were like cognac? All fire in zee glass?
Holly: No, he said I was like champagne. I made his head spin.
Angel: Yeah, only you'll be the one who winds up with a hangover.
[while Sebastian was speaking, romantically to Holly, Ruth, an elephant, was directed by Angel to pick up and take Holly away, from Sebastian, to Brad]
Sebastian: [Sebastian, speaking French] Qu'est-ce qu'al y a?
Holly: Let me go. Sebastian.
Angel: Never try to take anything from an elephant.
Holly: Sebastian, do something!
Sebastian: A lion I fight for you, a tiger! But the red-headed wildcat with an elephant, no.
[then he chuckled, with a big grin]
Holly: You make this two-tailed jackass put me down.
[Ruth let go of Holly, in front of Brad]
See More Quotes from The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth Facts
Rights to use of the title motto and the Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey's facilities and performances were purchased for $250,000. Cecil B. DeMille advised the writers to view the German film Varieté as a model for the type of story he wanted. DeMille toured the Midwest for two months with the circus, collecting anecdotes, slang, and behind-the-scenes ideas. Publicity resulting from his involvement drew sell-out crowds to the performances.
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.)
Victor Young's big-top music brightened the last of his six consecutive scores for Cecil B. DeMille productions, which began with North West Mounted Police.
During the film's spectacular set piece sequence of the train wreck, the Paramount sound Stage 16 was filled with animals running around loose. The greatest problem occurred when the large cage of monkeys was opened. The simians were so frightened of the lions and tigers that they panicked and fled the building, ending up in the adjoining Hollywood Cemetary. According to Cecil B. DeMille biographer Charles Higham, it proved almost impossible to retrieve them.
During one scene Sebastian (Cornel Wilde) is hanging from the trapeze by his knees. He catches Holly (Betty Hutton) then pulls her up and kisses her. This shot took several takes and during one of the early takes Wilde tore the ligaments in his shoulder. He managed to make it through two more takes, then had to stop. He was unable to use his arm for several days so Cecil B. DeMille shot scenes where he was not needed.
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