Cecil B. DeMilles THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952), Paramounts biggest box office smash up until then (beating DeMilles own SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949) and the Best Picture Oscar Winner that year. There are those who question the merits of that award given the other big entries of 1952, but let me say this: this is the one Hollywood picture that thoroughly captures the golden age of circus life which, like old Hollywood, is now long gone; Steven Spielberg credits this film, the first he ever saw at age 6, with igniting his love of the movies; the poignant and controversial subplot about Buttons the clown (Jimmy Stewart) hiding from the police because of an act of mercy he did on behalf of his ill wife; and the feminist ending (this is the 50s) which has Holly (Betty Hutton) taking charge and saving the circus from disaster. Lastly, this remains a super entertaining piece of Americana, ballyhoo and hokum, meticulously detailed, lavishly produced, and with a great set piece, and a fitting tribute to the cinemas greatest showman, CECIL B. DeMILLE.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 11:05:27 +0000
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