The Big Circus: Difference between revisions

The Big Circus
The Big Circus
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Joseph M. Newman
Screenplay by	Irwin Allen; Charles Bennett; Irving Wallace
Story by	Irwin Allen
Produced by	Irwin Allen
Starring	Victor Mature; Red Buttons; Rhonda Fleming; Kathryn Grant; Vincent Price; Peter Lorre; David Nelson; Gilbert Roland
Cinematography	Winton Hoch
Edited by	Adrienne Fazan
Music by	Paul Sawtell; Bert Shefter
Distributed by	Allied Artists Pictures
Release date	July 5, 1959;
Running time	108–109 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2 million
Box office	$2.7 million (est. US/ Canada rentals)

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The Big Circus is a 1959 American drama film directed by Joseph M. Newman and starring Victor Mature as a circus owner struggling with financial trouble and a murderous unknown saboteur. It was produced and cowritten by Irwin Allen, later known for a series of big-budget disaster films.^[3]

Plot

After splitting from his partnership with the Borman Brothers, Hank Whirling needs money to keep his Whirling Circus operational now that it must compete with the Bormans. He receives a bank loan but only on the condition he take along accountant Randy Sherman and publicist Helen Harrison to help the circus turn a profit.

Hank's top act is the Colino trapeze troupe, featuring Zach Colino, his wife Maria and newcomer Tommy Gordon. The circus also features ringmaster Hans and clown Skeeter. Unknown to Hank, his sister Jeannie wishes to be a trapeze artist and has been secretly training with the Colino act.

At a press party, a lion is let loose, terrifying the VIPs in attendance until Hank captures it with the help of Colino. Helen accuses him of staging the incident for publicity. They soon discover that the cage had been deliberately opened by an animal trainer named Slade, who is found, captured and eventually jailed.

When Skeeter is drunk and unable to perform his act, Randy substitutes, making numerous mistakes that actually made the act funnier.

Helen and Randy are infuriated by Whirling's refusal to accept their help. Hank believes that he is a good publicist and does not need Helen. After Randy fires 40 roustabouts and replaces them with a machine for raising the tent, Hank argues with him. The machine is sabotaged and sets a pile of hay on fire, but Hank prevents the tent from burning. Hank, Helen and Randy wonder if a saboteur, perhaps hired by the Bormans, is among the crew.

When the first section of the circus train derails, Maria Colino is killed, leaving her husband heartbroken and unable to perform. Attendance suffers because of recent foul weather, and the books are looking grim with the headline act unavailable.

Hank conceives a bold scheme. He will scrap the existing route, perform one show in Buffalo, and then slip into New York City three weeks before the Bormans' circus, stealing the audience from his rival. But he must create a major publicity splash. Helen proposes a stunt last performed in the 19th century: a walk across the gorge at Niagara Falls on a tightrope. As Zach has lost his confidence after his wife's death, Hank goads him into performing the stunt by calling him a coward. Zach plans to kill Hank after walking the tightrope, but after completing the walk, Zach realizes that Hank had been trying to help him and they reconcile.

With the bank about to foreclose on his circus, Hank approaches television star Steve Allen to seek publicity. Allen purchases the rights to broadcast the opening-night performance in New York for enough money to pay the show's line of credit and enable it to survive. Detectives come looking for Tommy and inform the show's management that he is an escaped lunatic. Hank realizes that Tommy is the saboteur.

Jeannie's debut with the Colino act nearly ends in disaster when Tommy deliberately misses catching her, but she manages to grasp a rope. While fleeing from Zach, Tommy falls to his death.

With the circus now profitable and the saboteur dead, Hank and Helen realize that they are in love. They kiss passionately.

Cast

Victor Mature as Henry Jasper "Hank" Whirling
Red Buttons as Randy Sherman
Rhonda Fleming as Helen Harrison
Kathryn Grant as Jeannie Whirling
Vincent Price as Hans Hagenfeld
Gilbert Roland as Zach Colino
Peter Lorre as Skeeter
David Nelson as Tommy Gordon
Adele Mara as Maria 'Mama' Colino
Howard McNear as Mr. Lomax
Charles Watts as Jonathan Nelson
Steve Allen as himself (cameo)

Production

Irwin Allen announced the film in 1957. He intended to produce and direct the film for Columbia and planned to have parts for 40 stars, in a similar manner to how he had produced and directed The Story of Mankind.^[4] The project would eventually be undertaken by Allied Artists.

Filming began in January 1959 at the MGM studios. Allen was interested in making "an exciting colorful show—something the public can't see on television."^[5]

Famed circus performer Barbette served on the film as a consultant.^[6]

Reception

According to Kinematograph Weekly the film performed "better than average" at the British box office in 1959.^[7]

Comic book adaptation

A comic book adaptation of the film, Dell Four Color #1036, was released in August 1959.^[8]^[9]

References

^ "Broidy: AA Looms in Black for '59". Variety. March 25, 1959. p. 7. Retrieved June 16, 2019 – via Archive.org.
^ "1959: Probable Domestic Take", Variety, 6 January 1960 p 34
^ MoMA
^ "SINATRA TO MAKE MOVIE WITH KANIN: Actor and Producer to Team on Latter's 'Devil May Care' --Welles Takes Film Role Wald Adds to Cast" Special to The New York Times.. New York Times 27 Aug 1957: 31
^ Pryor, Thomas M. (1959-01-11). "Hollywood Arena: 'Big Circus' Troupe Works to Equal Big Top's Authenticity and Color". The New York Times. pp. X7.
^ "'Big Circus' Coming to Airport Drive-In". The Paris (Texas) News. 1959-11-22.
^ Billings, Josh (17 December 1959). "Other better-than-average offerings". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.
^ "Dell Four Color #1036". Grand Comics Database.
^ Dell Four Color #1036 at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)

External links

The Big Circus at the TCM Movie Database
The Big Circus at IMDb
The Big Circus at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
The Big Circus at Rotten Tomatoes
The Big Circus at TV Guide

[1] "Broidy: AA Looms in Black for '59". Variety. March 25, 1959. p. 7. Retrieved June 16, 2019 – via Archive.org.

[2] "1959: Probable Domestic Take", Variety, 6 January 1960 p 34

[3] MoMA

[4] "SINATRA TO MAKE MOVIE WITH KANIN: Actor and Producer to Team on Latter's 'Devil May Care' --Welles Takes Film Role Wald Adds to Cast" Special to The New York Times.. New York Times 27 Aug 1957: 31

[5] Pryor, Thomas M. (1959-01-11). "Hollywood Arena: 'Big Circus' Troupe Works to Equal Big Top's Authenticity and Color". The New York Times. pp. X7.

[6] "'Big Circus' Coming to Airport Drive-In". The Paris (Texas) News. 1959-11-22.

[7] Billings, Josh (17 December 1959). "Other better-than-average offerings". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.

[8] "Dell Four Color #1036". Grand Comics Database.

[9] Dell Four Color #1036 at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | name           = The Big Circus
 | image          = Poster of the movie The Big Circus.jpg
-| image_size     =
 | caption        = [[Film poster|Theatrical release poster]]
 | director       = [[Joseph M. Newman]]
@@ Line 21: / Line 20: @@
 | gross          = $2.7 million (est. US/ Canada rentals)<ref>"1959: Probable Domestic Take", ''Variety'', 6 January 1960 p 34</ref>
 }}
-'''''The Big Circus''''' is a 1959 film starring [[Victor Mature]] as a circus owner struggling with financial trouble and a murderous unknown saboteur. It was produced and co-written by [[Irwin Allen]], later known for a series of big-budget [[disaster film]]s.<ref>[https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/4718 MoMA]</ref>
+'''''The Big Circus''''' is a 1959 American [[drama film]] directed by [[Joseph M. Newman]] and starring [[Victor Mature]] as a circus owner struggling with financial trouble and a murderous unknown saboteur. It was produced and cowritten by [[Irwin Allen]], later known for a series of big-budget [[disaster film]]s.<ref>[https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/4718 MoMA]</ref>
 ==Plot==
-After splitting from his partnership with the Borman Brothers, Hank Whirling (Mature) needs a bank loan to keep his Whirling Circus going, now in competition with the Bormans. He gets it from a stuffy New York City bank, but only on the condition he take along accountant Randy Sherman ([[Red Buttons]]) and publicist Helen Harrison ([[Rhonda Fleming]]) to help the circus turn a profit.
+After splitting from his partnership with the Borman Brothers, Hank Whirling needs money to keep his Whirling Circus operational now that it must compete with the Bormans. He receives a bank loan but only on the condition he take along accountant Randy Sherman and publicist Helen Harrison to help the circus turn a profit.
-Hank's top act is the Colino trapeze troupe, featuring family patriarch Zach Colino ([[Gilbert Roland]]), his wife Maria ([[Adele Mara]]) — affectionately called “Mama” by Zach — and newcomer Tommy Gordon ([[David Nelson (actor)|David Nelson]]). The circus also features ringmaster Hans ([[Vincent Price]]) and clown Skeeter ([[Peter Lorre]]). Unknown to Hank, his little sister Jeannie ([[Kathryn Crosby|Kathryn Grant]]) has nurtured a lifelong ambition to be a trapeze artist and has been secretly training with the Colino act for the past year.
+Hank's top act is the Colino trapeze troupe, featuring Zach Colino, his wife Maria and newcomer Tommy Gordon. The circus also features ringmaster Hans and clown Skeeter. Unknown to Hank, his sister Jeannie wishes to be a trapeze artist and has been secretly training with the Colino act.
-At a press party thrown to celebrate the start of the circus season, a lion is let loose, terrifying the VIPs in attendance until Hank manages to capture it with the help of Colino. Helen accuses him of staging the incident for publicity. Subsequently, they discover the lion's cage had been deliberately opened by an animal trainer named Slade who used to work for the Bormans and whom Hank had recently turned down for a job. Slade is found, captured and eventually jailed.
+At a press party, a lion is let loose, terrifying the VIPs in attendance until Hank captures it with the help of Colino. Helen accuses him of staging the incident for publicity. They soon discover that the cage had been deliberately opened by an animal trainer named Slade, who is found, captured and eventually jailed.
+When Skeeter is drunk and unable to perform his act, Randy substitutes, making numerous mistakes that actually made the act funnier.
-Harrison and Sherman are infuriated by Whirling's refusal to accept their help. Hank and Helen clash over the best way to publicize the show; he feels she is intruding on his turf because he actually IS a very good publicist.  Hank and Randy clash over Randy's firing of 40 roustabouts and replacing them with a stake-driving machine that expedites raising the Big Top. The machine is sabotaged and sets a pile of hay on fire; only swift action by Hank keeps the main top from burning. Hank, Helen and Randy begin to wonder if a saboteur, perhaps hired by the Bormans, is riding with the show.
+Helen and Randy are infuriated by Whirling's refusal to accept their help. Hank believes that he is a good publicist and does not need Helen. After Randy fires 40 roustabouts and replaces them with a machine for raising the tent, Hank argues with him. The machine is sabotaged and sets a pile of hay on fire, but Hank prevents the tent from burning. Hank, Helen and Randy wonder if a saboteur, perhaps hired by the Bormans, is among the crew.
-Tragedy strikes when the first section of the circus train derails en route to a new stand. Mama Colino, the show's "den mother," is killed, leaving Zach Colino heartbroken. He loses his nerve and is unable to go on. As he is the star of the show and the show's publicity is built around him, this is a major disaster. Coupled with the foul weather they have been enduring for weeks that keeps the circus goers at home, the books are looking grim. Only glib talk by Sherman keeps the bank at bay and the show on the road.
+When the first section of the circus train derails, Maria Colino is killed, leaving her husband heartbroken and unable to perform. Attendance suffers because of recent foul weather, and the books are looking grim with the headline act unavailable.
-Hank conceives a bold scheme. He will scrap the route he had laid out, do one show in [[Buffalo, New York]], and then slip into New York City three weeks before the Borman Brothers Circus, stealing the audience from his rival. But to make his plan work, Whirling needs a major publicity splash. Helen proposes a stunt last performed in the 19th century: a walk across the gorge at [[Niagara Falls]] on a tightrope. Since Zach has lost his confidence in the wake of Mama’s death, Hank goads Zach into making the wire-walk by calling him a coward. Colino swears that first he will walk the Falls, and then he will kill Hank.  But after completing one of the most dangerous wire walks in history, Zach realizes Hank said what he said only to help him, and they reconcile.
+Hank conceives a bold scheme. He will scrap the existing route, perform one show in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], and then slip into New York City three weeks before the Bormans' circus, stealing the audience from his rival. But he must create a major publicity splash. Helen proposes a stunt last performed in the 19th century: a walk across the gorge at [[Niagara Falls]] on a tightrope. As Zach has lost his confidence after his wife's death, Hank goads him into performing the stunt by calling him a coward. Zach plans to kill Hank after walking the tightrope, but after completing the walk, Zach realizes that Hank had been trying to help him and they reconcile.
-With the bank about to foreclose, Hank goes to television star [[Steve Allen]] to seek needed publicity for the circus. Allen buys the rights to broadcast the opening night performance in New York City for enough money to pay off the show's line of credit and enable it to go on. When detectives from the [[New York Police Department]] arrive on the lot looking for Tommy, the Colino Troupe's catcher, they inform the show's management that Tommy is an escaped lunatic. Hank realizes that Tommy is the saboteur who has been traveling with the circus and who is behind Mama Colino's death.
+With the bank about to foreclose on his circus, Hank approaches television star [[Steve Allen]] to seek publicity. Allen purchases the rights to broadcast the opening-night performance in New York for enough money to pay the show's line of credit and enable it to survive. Detectives come looking for Tommy and inform the show's management that he is an escaped lunatic. Hank realizes that Tommy is the saboteur.
-Meanwhile, Jeannie Whirling's debut with the Colino Troupe almost becomes her final performance when Tommy deliberately misses a catch, but she manages to grab onto one of the climbing ropes. While fleeing from Zach Colino, Tommy falls to his death. Down below, with the circus in the black and the saboteur dead, Hank and Helen realize what has been obvious to everyone else in the circus: they are in love with each other. The movie ends with Hank and Helen passionately kissing while ensconced on one of the floats in the spec on the track circling the three rings.
+Jeannie's debut with the Colino act nearly ends in disaster when Tommy deliberately misses catching her, but she manages to grasp a rope. While fleeing from Zach, Tommy falls to his death.
+With the circus now profitable and the saboteur dead, Hank and Helen realize that they are in love. They kiss passionately.
 ==Cast==
 {{col div}}
-*[[Victor Mature]] as Henry Jasper 'Hank' Whirling
+* [[Victor Mature]] as Henry Jasper "Hank" Whirling
-*[[Red Buttons]] as Randy Sherman
+* [[Red Buttons]] as Randy Sherman
-*[[Rhonda Fleming]] as Helen Harrison
+* [[Rhonda Fleming]] as Helen Harrison
-*[[Kathryn Crosby|Kathryn Grant]] as Jeannie Whirling
+* [[Kathryn Crosby|Kathryn Grant]] as Jeannie Whirling
-*[[Vincent Price]] as Hans Hagenfeld
+* [[Vincent Price]] as Hans Hagenfeld
-*[[Gilbert Roland]] as Zach Colino
+* [[Gilbert Roland]] as Zach Colino
-*[[Peter Lorre]] as Skeeter
+* [[Peter Lorre]] as Skeeter
-*[[David Nelson (actor)|David Nelson]] as Tommy Gordon
+* [[David Nelson (actor)|David Nelson]] as Tommy Gordon
-*[[Adele Mara]] as Maria 'Mama' Colino
+* [[Adele Mara]] as Maria 'Mama' Colino
-*[[Howard McNear]] as Mr. Lomax
+* [[Howard McNear]] as Mr. Lomax
-*Charles Watts as Jonathan Nelson
+* Charles Watts as Jonathan Nelson
-*[[Steve Allen]] as himself (cameo)
+* [[Steve Allen]] as himself (cameo)
 {{col div end}}
 ==Production==
-Allen announced the film in 1957. He was going to produce and direct for Columbia and intended to have parts for 40 stars, similar to how he made ''The Story of Mankind''.<ref>"SINATRA TO MAKE MOVIE WITH KANIN: Actor and Producer to Team on Latter's 'Devil May Care' --Welles Takes Film Role Wald Adds to Cast" Special to The New York Times.. ''New York Times'' 27 Aug 1957: 31</ref> He wound up making the film for Allied Artists.
+Irwin Allen announced the film in 1957. He intended to produce and direct the film for [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]] and planned to have parts for 40 stars, in a similar manner to how he had produced and directed ''[[The Story of Mankind (film)|The Story of Mankind]]''.<ref>"SINATRA TO MAKE MOVIE WITH KANIN: Actor and Producer to Team on Latter's 'Devil May Care' --Welles Takes Film Role Wald Adds to Cast" Special to The New York Times.. ''New York Times'' 27 Aug 1957: 31</ref> The project would eventually be undertaken by [[Allied Artists International|Allied Artists]].
-Filming started in January 1959 at the MGM studios. Allen was interested in making "an exciting colourful show - something the public can't see on television."<ref>"HOLLYWOOD ARENA: 'Big Circus' Troupe Works to Equal Big Top's Authenticity and Color" by THOMAS M. PRYOR HOLLYWOOD.. ''New York Times'' 11 Jan 1959: X7. </ref> Filming took place in early 1959.<ref>"Laughter Defined by Eddie Robinson: It's Tricky Business, He Says; Artists Flock to 'Big Circus'" Scheuer, Philip K. ''Los Angeles Times'' 31 Dec 1958: 13.</ref><ref>"LOCAL FILM VIEWS: Return to 'The Lost World' Planned -- New Indian Drama -- Other Items" by A. H. WEILER. ''New York Times'' 28 June 1959: X7.</ref>
+Filming began in January 1959 at the [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] studios. Allen was interested in making "an exciting colorful show—something the public can't see on television."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pryor |first=Thomas M. |date=1959-01-11 |title=Hollywood Arena: 'Big Circus' Troupe Works to Equal Big Top's Authenticity and Color |pages=X7 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
 Famed circus performer [[Barbette (performer)|Barbette]] served on the film as a consultant.<ref>{{cite news
@@ Line 66: / Line 69: @@
   | date = 1959-11-22}}</ref>
+==Reception==
-==Comic book adaption==
+According to ''[[Kinematograph Weekly]]'' the film performed "better than average" at the British box office in 1959.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Josh|last=Billings|magazine=Kinematograph Weekly|title=Other better-than-average offerings|date=17 December 1959|page=7}}</ref>
-A comic adaption, [[Dell Comics|Dell]] [[Four Color]] #1036, was released in August 1959.<ref>{{gcdb issue|id=15310|title=Dell Four Color #1036}}</ref><ref>{{comicbookdb|type=issue|id=313766|title=Dell Four Color #1036}}</ref>
+==Comic book adaptation==
+A comic book adaptation of the film, [[Dell Comics|Dell]] [[Four Color]] #1036, was released in August 1959.<ref>{{gcdb issue|id=15310|title=Dell Four Color #1036}}</ref><ref>{{comicbookdb|type=issue|id=313766|title=Dell Four Color #1036}}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 77: / Line 83: @@
 ==External links==
-*{{tcmdb title|id=16084}}
+* {{TCMDb title|id=16084}}
 * {{IMDb title|0052626|The Big Circus}}
+* {{AFI film|52829}}
 * {{Rotten Tomatoes|the_big_circus}}
-* {{Amg movie|84970|The Big Circus}}
 * [https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-big-circus/cast/2030010220/ ''The Big Circus'' at TV Guide]
@@ Line 90: / Line 96: @@
 [[Category:1959 drama films]]
 [[Category:Allied Artists films]]
-[[Category:American films]]
 [[Category:American drama films]]
 [[Category:Circus films]]
+[[Category:CinemaScope films]]
 [[Category:1950s English-language films]]
 [[Category:Films produced by Irwin Allen]]
@@ Line 99: / Line 105: @@
 [[Category:Films with screenplays by Irving Wallace]]
 [[Category:Films scored by Paul Sawtell]]
+[[Category:Films scored by Bert Shefter]]
+[[Category:1950s American films]]
+[[Category:English-language drama films]]

v t e Irwin Allen productions
Films	Double Dynamite (1951) A Girl in Every Port (1952) The Sea Around Us (1953) Dangerous Mission (1954) The Animal World (1956) The Story of Mankind (1957) The Big Circus (1959) The Lost World (1960) Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) The Poseidon Adventure (1972) The Towering Inferno (1974) Viva Knievel! (1977) The Swarm (1978) Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979) When Time Ran Out (1980)
Television series	Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964–68) Lost in Space (1965–68) The Time Tunnel (1966–67) Land of the Giants (1968–70) The Swiss Family Robinson (1975–76) Code Red (1981–82)
TV films	The Man from the 25th Century (1968) (short) City Beneath the Sea (1971) Adventures of the Queen (1975) Time Travelers (1976) Flood! (1976) Fire! (1977) The Return of Captain Nemo (1978) Hanging by a Thread (1979) The Memory of Eva Ryker (1980) The Night the Bridge Fell Down (1983) Cave-In! (1983) Alice in Wonderland (1985)