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IMDbPro

The Greatest Show on Earth

  • 1952
  • Approved
  • 2h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
17K
YOUR RATING
Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour, and Cornel Wilde in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
Official Trailer
Play trailer6:54
1 Video
78 Photos
DramaFamilyRomance

The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle.The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle.The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle.

  • Director
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Fredric M. Frank
    • Barré Lyndon
    • Theodore St. John
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • Charlton Heston
    • Betty Hutton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    17K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Cecil B. DeMille
    • Writers
      • Fredric M. Frank
      • Barré Lyndon
      • Theodore St. John
    • Stars
      • James Stewart
      • Charlton Heston
      • Betty Hutton
    • 164User reviews
    • 66Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 13 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Greatest Show on Earth
    Trailer 6:54
    The Greatest Show on Earth

    Photos78

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    + 71
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    James Stewart
    James Stewart
    • 'Buttons' A Clown
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Brad Braden
    Betty Hutton
    Betty Hutton
    • Holly
    Cornel Wilde
    Cornel Wilde
    • The Great Sebastian
    Dorothy Lamour
    Dorothy Lamour
    • Phyllis
    Gloria Grahame
    Gloria Grahame
    • Angel
    Henry Wilcoxon
    Henry Wilcoxon
    • FBI Agent Gregory
    Lyle Bettger
    Lyle Bettger
    • Klaus
    Lawrence Tierney
    Lawrence Tierney
    • Mr. Henderson
    Emmett Kelly
    Emmett Kelly
    • Emmett Kelly
    Cucciola
    • Cucciola
    Antoinette Concello
    • Antoinette Concello
    John Ringling North
    • John Ringling North
    Tuffy Genders
    • Tuffy Genders
    John Kellogg
    John Kellogg
    • Harry
    John Ridgely
    John Ridgely
    • Assistant Manager
    Frank Wilcox
    Frank Wilcox
    • Circus Doctor
    Robert Carson
    Robert Carson
    • Ringmaster
    • (as Bob Carson)
    • Director
      • Cecil B. DeMille
    • Writers
      • Fredric M. Frank
      • Barré Lyndon
      • Theodore St. John
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Oscars Best Picture Winners, Ranked

    Oscars Best Picture Winners, Ranked

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite his made-to-order background as a real-life circus acrobat, Burt Lancaster declined the role of The Great Sebastian, a fact Cecil B. DeMille doubly regretted when he learned that Cornel Wilde was afraid of heights. Wilde was game, however, and ended up performing many of his own stunts on the flying trapeze.
    • Goofs
      When Brad is checking the baby gorillas after learning they may have contracted the mumps, a crowd of onlookers is gathered right behind, plainly staring at the camera filming the scene.
    • Quotes

      [Phyllis is having her hair washed by Birdie as heart-throb Sebastian approaches;]

      Phyllis: Why is it whenever he's around I'm all wet?

      Birdie: In more ways than one.

    • Connections
      Featured in Concept (1964)
    • Soundtracks
      The Greatest Show on Earth
      By Victor Young and Ned Washington
      Sung by Betty Hutton (uncredited)

    User reviews164

    Featured review
    6/10

    An impressive spectacle

    For basically being a two-and-a-half hour advertisement for the circus, The Greatest Show on Earth isn't bad. Is it the best film of 1952? Probably not. But it's still better than some other Best Picture winners I've seen. Part fiction and part documentary, this movie is an impressive spectacle. The dialogue may be corny and the performances may be over the (big) top, but this is a fun way to experience the magic of the circus.
    • cricketbat
    • Oct 10, 2018
    • Permalink

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    FAQ20

    • How long is The Greatest Show on Earth?Powered by Alexa
    • What did Buttons do?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth
    • Filming locations
      • Sarasota, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $36,000,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $36,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 32 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour, and Cornel Wilde in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
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