Evening star., 1952-03-15

~~~-~N~~y
single fitting response is for the
public to make attendance at the
Warner and Ambassador theaters
unanimous during the run of the
latest DeMille epic.
"The Greatest Show on Earth"
Is the circus as every one has
dreamed Of seeing it, in breath
taking close-ups Of its every fea-.
ture: the death-defying aerialists,
the animals, the behind the
scenes and private lives Of the
performers. Thus examined, the
circus removes any trace Of doubt
that it is the greatest show on
earth.
A minute minority Of cynics has
uttered the blasphemy that the
plot Of DeMille's picture leaves
much to be desired. This ignores
the fact that circuses do not need
plots, that plots are for enter
tainment that has to struggle to
create delight In its magic. The
plot DeMille employs merely
serves as a line on which to run
his revealing cameras, to get the
picture from its dramatic opening
to its dramatic finale.
An extra flip Of drama locally
Is to be found in the fact that
performance scenes shot during
the run Of Ringing Bros, Barnum
and Bailey's show here make use
OF . lot Of Washington faces.
The whole teeming life of the
worlds greatest circus is spread
on the brilliantly colored surface
OF the fllm at the Warner. Not
a sight or sound-only the smell
is missing in the work starring
Betty Hutton, James Stewart,
Cornell Wilde, Charlton Heston,
Dorothy Lamour and Gloria
Grahame. Nor are any of the
actual circus personnel or the ami
mails for this is a gigantic album
of big-top life.
The magic Of 1t all holds De- |
Mile fascinated. His picture as
sures every one complete share
in that fascination.
At its best when it is pure cir
Gus, "The Greatest Show on
Earth" nevertheless pauses fire.
quently to tell a story of a COM
plex of personal relations behind
the scenes.
In the middle of this tale stands
Holly miss Hutton) a flyer" or
aerialist, who is in love with Actor
Heston, the circus manager. When
she thinks he loves the circus
more, a sound thought. she re-
bounds tentatively into the arms
Of the spectacular fellow flyer
played by Cornell Wilde.
This takes care of the romantic
angle of the film. The hauntinglyI
mysterious one is disposed of ini
the clown character played BY
Stewart. He Is a man obviously
in flight from tradgedy in his
personal life, special man who
has donned a clowns mask to-
hide from the world.
Secondarily romantic is the af-
fair between Miss Grahame, of
the elephant act. and the hot
headed big animal trainer played
by Lyle Bettger. There are comedy
Overtones in this affair, louder
ones in the antics of Miss Lamour
rs an "iron-jaw" chorus girl.
II u X \
Most dramatic areas of 1.-THE
Greatest Show" are those which
show Miss Hutton and Wilde-in
person-performing on the high
trapezes.. Here is the circus most
spectacular feature and here one
gets closeup of. it that increases
its excitement beyond belief. For
the unbearable suspense which is
the essence of drama, moviegoersI
have never seen the equal of the
duel between Miss Hutton and
Wilde in the flying acts of De-
Miles film.
That it makes pallid the little
written drama Of 1.-THE Greatest
Show" is inevitable. as is also the
same effect created by most of the
genuine actual circus acts. These
include the animal acts, "spec"
eceI1nS Hl0urn rnl1fiaas and ar1oHn