The Greatest Show on Earth
“The Heartbeat Story of Circus People, Filmed with the Cooperation of Ringling Bros. - Barnum and Bailey Circus!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2013-09-23
Top Cast
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Betty Hutton
Holly
Cornel Wilde
The Great Sebastian
Charlton Heston
Brad Braden
Dorothy Lamour
Phyllis
Gloria Grahame
Angel
James Stewart
Buttons
Henry Wilcoxon
Agent Gregory
Lyle Bettger
Klaus
Lawrence Tierney
Mr. Henderson
Emmett Kelly
Emmett Kelly
Cucciola
Cucciola
Antoinette Concello
Antoinette Concello
John Ringling North
John Ringling North
Tuffy Genders
Tuffy Genders
John Kellogg
Harry
John Ridgely
Assistant Manager
Frank Wilcox
Doctor
Robert Carson
The Ringmaster
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City, New York
Festival / Special Debut
February 21, 1952
Wide Cinema Exhibition
February 21, 2007
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$4M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$36M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
9x
+$32M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Cecil B. DeMille
- Screenplay & Story
- Fredric M. Frank, Theodore St. John, Barré Lyndon
- Original Score
- Victor Young
- Original Title
- The Greatest Show on Earth
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Russian
- Runtime
- 2h 32m
- Production Budget
- $4M
- Worldwide Gross
- $36M
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Cecil B. DeMille
Fredric M. Frank, Theodore St. John, Barré Lyndon, Frank Cavett
Victor Young
George Barnes, W. Wallace Kelley, J. Peverell Marley
Anne Bauchens
Cecil B. DeMille
Department Leadership Roster
Cecil B. DeMille
Director
Fredric M. Frank
Screenplay
Theodore St. John
Screenplay
Barré Lyndon
Screenplay
Cecil B. DeMille
Producer
George Barnes
Director of Photography
Anne Bauchens
Editor
Edith Head
Costume Design
Dorothy Jeakins
Costume Design
Victor Young
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Greatest Show on Earth.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Greatest Show on Earth.
North American Cinema
Auto-generated by festival-lists — do not edit by hand.
金球奖最佳剧情片
Golden Globe Best Drama 金球奖历届最佳剧情片。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:43:13 UTC+8)*
奥斯卡历届最佳影片
Oscar Winning Films: Best Picture 奥斯卡历届最佳影片。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:42:59 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Greatest Show on Earth
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Greatest Show on Earth about?
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.
Who directed The Greatest Show on Earth?
The Greatest Show on Earth was directed by Cecil B. DeMille.
Who stars in The Greatest Show on Earth?
The principal cast of The Greatest Show on Earth includes Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame.
When was The Greatest Show on Earth released and how long is it?
The Greatest Show on Earth was released in 1952 with a total runtime of 2h 32m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Greatest Show on Earth?
The Greatest Show on Earth had a reported production budget of $4M and grossed $36M at the worldwide box office (9 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Greatest Show on Earth?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Greatest Show on Earth was composed by Victor Young.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Greatest Show on Earth?
The Greatest Show on Earth holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).