The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

Member Rating:

Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth is a lavish tribute to circuses, featuring three intertwining plotlines concerning romance and rivalry beneath the big top. DeMille's film includes spectacular action sequences, including a show-stopping train wreck. The Greatest Show on Earth won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Story. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Starring:: Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, (more)

Director(s):: Cecil B. DeMille

Format(s):: DVD
View All Versions to rent and buy

Movies Similar to The Greatest Show on Earth

: Add Billy Rose's Jumbo to Queue Add Billy Rose's Jumbo to top of Queue

: Add Julius Caesar to Queue Add Julius Caesar to top of Queue

: Add The Bad and the Beautiful to Queue Add The Bad and the Beautiful to top of Queue

: Add Carnival Story to Queue Add Carnival Story to top of Queue

: Add Cleopatra to Queue Add Cleopatra to top of Queue

Synopsis of The Greatest Show on Earth

Theatrical Feature Running Time:: 152 mins

Complete Cast of The Greatest Show on Earth

Betty Hutton - Holly
Charlton Heston - Brad Braden
Gloria Grahame - Angel
Henry Wilcoxon - Gregory of the FBI
Lawrence Tierney - Henderson
Antoinette Concello - Herself
John Kellogg - Harry
Frank Wilcox - Circus Doctor
Lillian Albertson - Buttons' Mother
Claude Dunkin - Claude
Jimmie Dundee - Utility man
Sid Saylor - Circus barker
Felix Adler - Himself
Lee Aaker - Boy
Anthony Marsh - Tony
Erik Nelson - Boy
Bruce Cameron - Bruce
Lester Dorr - Circus Barker
Stanley Andrews - Man
Beverly Washburn - Girl
John Merton - Chuck
Bess Flowers - Spectator
Lane Chandler - Dave
Riccardo Cucciolla - Himself
Everett Glass - Board member
Fred Kohler, Jr. - Fireman
Norman Field - Truesdale
William "Hopalong" Boyd - Hopalong Cassidy
Dale Van Sickel - Man in train wreck
Gertrude Messenger - Gertrude
John Parrish - Jack Lawson
Hugh Prosser - Hugh

Cornel Wilde - Sebastian
Dorothy Lamour - Phyllis
James Stewart - Buttons, a Clown
Lyle Bettger - Klaus
Emmett Kelly, Jr. - Himself
John Ringling North - Himself
John Ridgely - Jack Steelman, Assistant Manager
Bob Carson - Ringmaster
Julia Faye - Birdie
William Hall - Bill
Iphigenie Castiglioni - Herself
Mona Knox - Mona
Milt Kibbee - Townsman
Keith Richards - Keith
Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. - Man
Russ Conklin - Rus
Nancy Gates - Spectator
Kathleen Freeman - Woman
Howard Negley - Truck boss
Lorna Jordan - Lorna
Clarence Nash - Spectator
Ken Christy - Spectator
Noel Neill - Noel
Brad Johnson - Reporter
Charmienne Harker - Charmienne
Brad Hatton - Osborne
John Crawford - Jack
Mona Freeman - Spectator
Lou Jacobs - Himself (clown)
Ethan Laidlaw - Hank
Lydia Clarke - Circus Girl
Herbert Lytton - Foreman

Director(s):: Cecil B. DeMille

Writer(s):: Theodore St. John, Fredric M. Frank, Frank Cavett

Producer(s):: Cecil B. DeMille

The Greatest Show on Earth Awards:

1952 - Golden Globe - Best Picture - Drama
1952 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture - Drama
1952 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Cinematography - Color
1952 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Cinematography - Color
1952 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Director

Looking for special editions of The Greatest Show on Earth?: See All Versions

Subtitles:: Check All Versions

Closed Captioning:: Check All Versions

BY MAIL

Monthly Subscription

Add The Greatest Show on Earth to Queue Add The Greatest Show on Earth to top of Queue

IN-STORE

ON DEMAND

Blockbuster Instant Video

Watch thousands of movies instantly on your TV, tablet, mobile phone or computer with no monthly subscription. You pay only for what you watch.

What's Your Take?

Add to Favorites In Favorites | Share:

Member Reviews

Read all (10)

	Shannon B.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Charlton Heston may be the headliner, but Jimmy Stewart steals the show. This movie is mostly a soap opera at the circus. Heston gives his standard stiff delivery to circus manager Brad, whose love triangle with Holly and Sebastian (two competing but lusting trapeze artists) seems juvenile and unsympathetic. *The Greatest Show on Earth* is saved by two things: (1) the behind-the-scenes look at the massive circus machine is truly mind-boggling, and (2) Stewart makes cinematic magic out of the circus clown with a secret. Although he occupies the perimeter of much of the movie's action, he's the most memorable, subtle, surprising, and tragic part about it. As in the real circus itself, the clowns steal the show.

Was this review helpful? Yes | No

	Cliff T.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Wow! They sure donât make movies like this anymore. This Cecil B. DeMille spectacular captures the spirit of the âGreatest Show on Earthâ with the all thrills, chills, and spills under the big top. Great acting by the macho actors (Heston,,Wilde ) and beautiful actresses (Hutton, Grahame, and Lamour) and even the clowns ( Jimmy Stewart, Emmett Kelley). The animal acts and train wreck scenes were outstanding (notwithstanding PETAâs moronic demands to remove them from the TV version of the movie) A truly wonderful movie

Was this review helpful? Yes | No

	Jason C.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

There are probably only 3 reasons to watch this movie: 1) you're a big fan of Charlton Heston and/or Jimmy Stewart, 2) you're focused on watching all the Best Picture winners, or 3) you have a fascination with the circus and want to catch a behind-the-scenes peek at how the biggest one operated 60 years ago. Otherwise skip this one unless you enjoy the uneasiness associated with bad storylines and dialogue. DeMille should have taken epic movie-making lessons from David Lean.

Was this review helpful? Yes | No

Read All 10 Reviews

The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

Movies Similar to The Greatest Show on Earth

Synopsis of The Greatest Show on Earth

Complete Cast of The Greatest Show on Earth

BY MAIL

IN-STORE

ON DEMAND

Blockbuster Instant Video

What's Your Take?

Rating Systems

Blockbuster

Email Exclusives