The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

 The Greatest Show on Earth is Cecil B. DeMille’s tale of life under the big top and the backstage dramas contained within, including a trapeze competition between the Great Sebastian (Cornel Wilde) and Holly (Betty Hutton) which ends in tragedy, the secret past of Buttons the Clown (James Stewart), and circus manager Brad Braden’s (Charlton Heston) efforts to resist corruption and put on his greatest show through it all.

Well, this movie has an unfortunate title. There’s just something about a title like The Greatest Show on Earth and a cast featuring Charlton Heston and James Stewart that raises expectations and opens up your film to more scrutiny if it turns out to be not so good- and without mincing words, Greatest Show is a colossal waste of time. In addition to sloppy editing and laughable green screen/miniature special effects, the film simply has no appealing story or resolution. At least half of the running time just shows neat circus stunts which, while impressive, do not make for a good film. You keep waiting for something to tie the disparate characters together in an Altman/Anderson way, which only occurs with limited satisfaction after a train crash scene that looks like it was filmed with Legos and Linkin Logs. It was more entertaining to watch Katie’s horrified expressions every time a clown was onscreen than actually watching the film (Katie is deathly afraid of clowns… more on that in her post). Fun uncredited cameos from the likes of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope cannot save this picture, which only barely avoids being the worst Best Picture winner because of vibrant colors and more ambition and spectacle than The Broadway Melody. This film’s Best Picture win over such classics as High Noon or The Quiet Man must rank as one of the most disappointing snubs in the history of the awards. Make no mistake- this film does not live up to it’s title and is a Show that is better left skipped.

Take that, Super 8!  Watch this at the 2:00 minute mark for one of the most illogical scenes I've ever seen in a film. There, we just saved you 2.5 hours. You're welcome.

CLOWNS?!?! What the heck!  JIMMY STEWART!!! YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS!  This movie is an abomination.  Jimmy Stewart is constantly wearing clown make-up and his name is Buttons...  What the hell is going on?  And as we were watching it Tim says, "Katie, don't be afraid of clowns... they're fine.  No one is going to hurt you."  Then Buttons the clown is an effing "murderer."  Ridiculous... aka NOT The Greatest Show on Earth.  

The first movie that Steven Spielberg ever saw. His father took him to the theater, promising him a trip to the circus. He was four years old at the time. 

Buttons: Clowns are funny people, they only love once. 
Holly: All men aren't that way, even if they act like clowns.