The Greatest Show on Earth
US (1952): Drama/Family/Romance
To ensure a full profitable season, circus manager Brad Braden (Charlton Heston) engages aerialist The Great Sebastian (Cornel Wilde), though this moves his girlfriend Holly (Betty Hutton) from her hard-won center trapeze spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a dangerous one-upmanship duel in the ring, while he pursues her on the ground. Subplots involve the secret past of Buttons the Clown (James Stewart) and the efforts of racketeers to move in on the game concessions. Director Cecil B. DeMille was demanding of his actors and actresses and insisted that everyone truly learn to perform the circus roles they were supposed to be "acting." This meant that Betty Hutton really did have to learn the trapeze, and Gloria Grahame had to let an elephant rest its foot an inch from her face, and Cornell Wilde probably had it the worst, as he was portraying a high-wire artist... and he was seriously afraid of heights! Cast also includes Dorothy Lamour, Henry Wilcoxon, Lyle Bettger, Lawrence Tierney and many Ringling Bros. performers portraying themselves (e.g., Emmett Kelly, Lou Jacobs, Cucciola and John Ringling North). (Paramount) (Rod Crawford, IMDb)
5 nominations, 2 Awards
· Best Picture 1952: Cecil B. De Mille - Producer (DeMille, Paramount)
· Writing (Best Motion Picture Story) 1952: Frederic M. Frank, Theodore St. John, Frank Cavett
· Directing 1952: Cecil B. De Mille
· Costume Design (Color) 1952: Edith Head, Dorothy Jeakins, Miles White
· Film Editing 1952: Anne Bauchens