1952 brings us The Greatest Show on Earth. Yet another colour film and the title alone gets the pulse racing with anticipation. Are we about to see the Greatest Show ever?
Maybe so. Some of the early setup is reminiscent of 2017’s Greatest Showman. Instead of Hugh Jackman, Zac Effron, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya, we are greeted with Charlton Heston and his travelling circus but no matter – the originals are normally better right?
Not this time. Those missing Hugh and Zac may struggle to stay positive. This film brings joy in very limited packages. The mistreatment of animals is sad to see and one finds themselves watching long circus acts that bore the soul. How did this win best picture in a year when Singin’ in the Rain wasn’t even nominated?
The only saving grace is some mildly interesting plot lines and some good acting from Charlton, Jimmy Stewart (good luck spotting him in full clown make-up) and Cornel Wilde. There’s a tense moment involving an elephant foot over somebody’s head to look forward to. There’s also an Easter egg in the shape of Bing Crosby in the audience at one point.
A train crash during the film is an effective allegory for the intoxicated decision-making from the Oscar committee that year. Was corruption a problem in the 50s? This may need to be explored. It comes second last.
Rating:
4/10
Reflections:
1. The use of animals for human entertainment on a grand scale is grotesque.
2. Jealousy consumes the soul.
Oscar Best Picture Rankings:
1. Casablanca (1943)
2. Rebecca (1940)
3. Lost Weekend (1945)
4. All About Eve (1950)
5. Hamlet (1948)
6. How Green Was My Valley (1941)
7. Gone With the Wind (1939)
8. Mrs. Miniver (1942)
9. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
10. Wings (1928)
11. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
12. You can’t take it with you (1938)
13. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
14. Cimarron (1931)
15. Grand Hotel (1932)
16. An American in Paris (1951)
17. It Happened One Night (1934)
18. Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)
19. Cavalcade (1933)
20. The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
21. Going My Way (1944)
22. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
23. All the King’s Men (1949)
24. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
25. The Broadway Melody (1929)
Previous or current ranking leaders are in bold.
With credit and thanks to the patrons of the Best Picture Film Club:
Dr Sophie Bloomfield
Dr Caspar Briault
Dr Fionnuala Durrant
Dr Meera Radia
Yes, Hugh Jackman's glorious Greatest Showman this ain't... great review, Joe, if only to depict the tedium of this film 🎥
A grandiose title plus technological advances in Technicolour made for a great visit to the cinema circa 1952. Lots of early career patrs for the likes of Charlton Heston etc. who were impressive. The gigantic train crash was a disappointment as it clearly resembled a child's train set. Also, James Stewart was a rather poor ER doctor but like the film itself everyone was trying their best. Overall a bit of a grim cinematic experience.