Certainly influenced by the 1952 Academy Award winning best film (and probably utilizing many of the same sets as they were both filmed at Paramount), this is one of the best Martin and Lewis films, and certainly one of the sweetest and most accessable, as well as one of the least frequently annoying. Lewis is playing a saner, less childlike character than normal, while Martin's a bit more ruthless which also makes him a lot more interesting. Obviously a new structure was needed for their films after five years, but unfortunately, their later films didn't have the uniqueness of this one.
Both Dean and Jerry are getting out of the military, and Jerry has a job offer with a struggling circus as an intern. It's his desire to become a popular clown, but he ends up working as a lion tamer then assists the high wire act. It's while doing that where owner Joanne Dru notices his potential. Veteran star clown Gene Sheldon is jealous of his success during his debut, but others in the act like him, and he goes into being a great success. I think this is probably Lewis's best performance, and Martin's playboy is quite supportive of her. He's torn between Dru and trapeze star Zsa Zsa Gabor whose ego rivals Dean's. Lewis favorite Kathleen Freeman has a small role being a victim of Lewis's working a frozen yogurt stand.
The colorful sawdust setting is beautiful, with Wallace Ford and Elsa Lancaster good in support. Gabor reminds me of Olga Baclanova in "Freaks", although there's no element of that horror classic in this. Plenty of decent songs ("It's a Great Big Wonderful World" and "Poncinello" my favorites) and other memorable moments, with one of my favorite childhood movie watching memories being the litter girl who refuses to laugh, a goal for Lewis to change. The film intelligently shows the dramatic side of the circus life (Sheldon's nasty character is quite a jealous troublemaker), and the fun side, mixed with lots of heart.
Both Dean and Jerry are getting out of the military, and Jerry has a job offer with a struggling circus as an intern. It's his desire to become a popular clown, but he ends up working as a lion tamer then assists the high wire act. It's while doing that where owner Joanne Dru notices his potential. Veteran star clown Gene Sheldon is jealous of his success during his debut, but others in the act like him, and he goes into being a great success. I think this is probably Lewis's best performance, and Martin's playboy is quite supportive of her. He's torn between Dru and trapeze star Zsa Zsa Gabor whose ego rivals Dean's. Lewis favorite Kathleen Freeman has a small role being a victim of Lewis's working a frozen yogurt stand.
The colorful sawdust setting is beautiful, with Wallace Ford and Elsa Lancaster good in support. Gabor reminds me of Olga Baclanova in "Freaks", although there's no element of that horror classic in this. Plenty of decent songs ("It's a Great Big Wonderful World" and "Poncinello" my favorites) and other memorable moments, with one of my favorite childhood movie watching memories being the litter girl who refuses to laugh, a goal for Lewis to change. The film intelligently shows the dramatic side of the circus life (Sheldon's nasty character is quite a jealous troublemaker), and the fun side, mixed with lots of heart.