Cast: Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton and James Stewart, Dorothy Lamour

Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille

Life under the big top is what this 1952 star spangled film that won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Story is all about. The film circles around love, jealousy and crime that takes place in what is believed to be the greatest show on Earth. Brad Braden (Charlton Heston) is a circus manager who runs the show amid a tight budget. To ensure good attendance and money flow, he hires one of the best trapeze stars around, the daredevil The Great Sebastian (Cornel Wilde) to replace his girlfriend, Holly (Betty Hutton), a beautiful and talented trapeze artist who had been promised the coveted center-ring spot. Braden had to demote Holly so that the show can get the crowds. But this doesn't go well with Holly, who has worked hard to become the circus' main attraction. Sebastian, a ladies' man, takes a liking to Holly, but she is not amused and is furious to see him take her post. At their performances, Sebastian and Holly carry their anger almost 60 feet in the air, each trying to outdo the other performing dangerous stunts, all to gain an audience reaction.

While high above Sebastian professes his love for Holly, on solid ground they are enemies. Brad is too busy running the show to notice a change in her behavior towards him. But tragedy strikes just when everything is going well. Now Brad must hold the circus together when Sebastian is injured. But the going gets tough when a major train accident threatens the very livelihood of the The Greatest Show on Earth. Will Braden make a comeback or will the Big Top crash?

The carnival atmosphere complete with clowns, midgets, jugglers, and wild animals is a sight to watch. Don’t miss the lovely soundtrack, specially the song Betty Hutton sings and jumps (on a trampoline) to the musical number ‘Be a Jumpin' Jack’.

Rating: ****

- Reviewed by Verus Ferreira