The Greatest Show on Earth backdrop
The Greatest Show on Earth
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The Greatest Show on Earth 1952 Directed by Cecil B. DeMille

The Heartbeat Story of Circus People, Filmed with the Cooperation of Ringling Bros. - Barnum and Bailey Circus!

To ensure a full profitable season, circus manager Brad Braden engages The Great Sebastian, though this moves his girlfriend Holly from her hard-won center trapeze spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a dangerous one-upmanship duel in the ring, while he pursues her on the ground.

Country USA
Production Country USA
Language English
Spoken Languages English , Russian
Gneres Drama , Romance
Production Company Paramount Pictures
Budget $4,000,000
Revenue $36,000,000
Release Date 16 February 1952
152 mins
Cast
Betty Hutton
Betty Hutton Holly
Cornel Wilde
Cornel Wilde The Great Sebastian
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston Brad Braden
Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy Lamour Phyllis
Gloria Grahame
Gloria Grahame Angel
James Stewart
James Stewart Buttons
Henry Wilcoxon
Henry Wilcoxon FBI Agent Gregory
Lyle Bettger
Lyle Bettger Klaus
Lawrence Tierney
Lawrence Tierney Mr. Henderson
Emmett Kelly
Emmett Kelly Himself
Cucciola
Cucciola Cucciola
Robert Carson
Robert Carson The Ringmaster
John Kellogg
John Kellogg Harry
Julia Faye
Julia Faye Birdie
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
John Ringling North
John Ringling North Himself
Lou Jacobs
Lou Jacobs Himself (clown)
Brad Jackson
Brad Jackson Reporter at RIngside
Frank Wilcox
Frank Wilcox Doctor
Lillian Albertson
Lillian Albertson Buttons' mother
Milton Kibbee
Milton Kibbee Picked-pocket Customer
Davison Clark
Davison Clark Sam, game customer
Dorothy Adams
Dorothy Adams Sam's Wife (uncredited)
Arthur Q. Bryan
Arthur Q. Bryan Ice-Cream Eating Spectator
Bess Flowers
Bess Flowers Spectator (uncredited)
Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby Spectator (uncredited)
Bob Hope
Bob Hope Spectator (uncredited)
Mona Freeman
Mona Freeman Spectator (uncredited)
Kathleen Freeman
Kathleen Freeman Spectator (uncredited)
William Boyd
William Boyd Hopalong Cassidy (uncredited)
Beverly Washburn
Beverly Washburn Little Girl Spectator (uncredited)
Lee Aaker
Lee Aaker Little Boy Spectator (uncredited)
Erville Alderson
Erville Alderson Spectator (uncredited)
Oliver Blake
Oliver Blake Spectator (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Franklyn Farnum Spectator (uncredited)
Nancy Gates
Nancy Gates Spectator
Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby Spectator
John Ridgely
John Ridgely Assistant Manager
Lane Chandler
Lane Chandler Dave (uncredited)
Edmond O'Brien
Edmond O'Brien Midway Barker at End (uncredited)
Eric Alden
Eric Alden Canvas Man (uncredited)
Noel Neill
Noel Neill Noel (uncredited)
Syd Saylor
Syd Saylor Circus Barker (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton
Chuck Hamilton Ambulance Driver (uncredited)
Daisy Earles
Daisy Earles Midget
Luce Potter
Luce Potter Midget
Angelo Rossitto
Angelo Rossitto Dwarf
Antoinette Concello
Antoinette Concello Antoinette Concello
Tuffy Genders
Tuffy Genders Tuffy Genders
Kay Wiley
Kay Wiley
Lillian O'Malley
Lillian O'Malley Spectator
Crew
Director
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille
Writers
Fredric M. Frank
Fredric M. Frank
Theodore St. John
Theodore St. John
Barré Lyndon
Barré Lyndon
Producer
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille
Cinematography
George Barnes
George Barnes
Composer
Victor Young
Victor Young
Editor
Anne Bauchens
Anne Bauchens
Story
Theodore St. John
Theodore St. John
Fredric M. Frank
Fredric M. Frank
Frank Cavett
Frank Cavett
Art Direction
Walter H. Tyler
Walter H. Tyler
Hal Pereira
Hal Pereira
Set Decoration
Sam Comer
Sam Comer
Ray Moyer
Ray Moyer
Costume Design
Dorothy Jeakins
Dorothy Jeakins
Edith Head
Edith Head
Makeup Artist
Wally Westmore
Wally Westmore
Stunts
Polly Burson
Polly Burson
Assistant Director
Edward Salven
Edward Salven
Additional Photography
J. Peverell Marley
J. Peverell Marley
W. Wallace Kelley
W. Wallace Kelley