The Smallest Show on Earth
“The Funniest Show on Earth!”
Synopsis
Jean and Bill are a married couple trying to scrape a living. Out of the blue they receive a telegram informing them Bill's long-lost uncle has died and left them his business—a cinema in the town of Sloughborough. Unfortunately they can't sell it for the fortune they hoped as they discover it is falling down and almost worthless.
Top Cast
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Virginia McKenna
Jean Spenser
Bill Travers
Matt Spenser
Margaret Rutherford
Mrs. Fazackalee
Peter Sellers
Percy Quill
Bernard Miles
Old Tom
Francis de Wolff
Albert Hardcastle
Leslie Phillips
Robin Carter
June Cunningham
Marlene Hogg
Sidney James
Mr. Hogg
George Cross
Commissionaire
George Cormack
Bell
Stringer Davis
Emmett
Michael Corcoran
Taxi Driver
Liz Fraser
Girl in Cinema (uncredited)
Peter Copley
Actor in The Mystery of Hell Valley (uncredited)
Mario Fabrizi
Actor in The Mystery of Hell Valley (uncredited)
Frazer Hines
Cast Member (uncredited)
Billy Lawrence
Cast Member (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 9, 1957
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Basil Dearden
- Screenplay & Story
- William Rose, John Eldridge
- Original Score
- William Alwyn
- Original Title
- The Smallest Show on Earth
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 23m
- Production Studios
- Hallmark Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Basil Dearden
William Rose, John Eldridge
William Alwyn
Douglas Slocombe
Oswald Hafenrichter
Michael Relph
Department Leadership Roster
William Rose
Screenplay
John Eldridge
Screenplay
Basil Dearden
Director
Michael Relph
Producer
William Alwyn
Original Music Composer
Douglas Slocombe
Director of Photography
Oswald Hafenrichter
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Smallest Show on Earth.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Smallest Show on Earth.
Hallmark
Synced from PublicMetaDB list 'Hallmark'
Hallmark
Hallmark original movies, from TMDb's Hallmark production-company records.
Missing Mine
FILMS ABOUT FILM
Imported from MUBI list: https://mubi.com/en/lists/films-about-film--4
BD Release: Past-1960
Movies released in 4K Blu-ray format - Past-1960
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Smallest Show on Earth
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Smallest Show on Earth about?
Jean and Bill are a married couple trying to scrape a living. Out of the blue they receive a telegram informing them Bill's long-lost uncle has died and left them his business—a cinema in the town of Sloughborough. Unfortunately they can't sell it for the fortune they hoped as they discover it is falling down and almost worthless.
Who directed The Smallest Show on Earth?
The Smallest Show on Earth was directed by Basil Dearden.
Who stars in The Smallest Show on Earth?
The principal cast of The Smallest Show on Earth includes Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers, Margaret Rutherford, Peter Sellers, Bernard Miles.
When was The Smallest Show on Earth released and how long is it?
The Smallest Show on Earth was released in 1957 with a total runtime of 1h 23m.
Who composed the musical score for The Smallest Show on Earth?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Smallest Show on Earth was composed by William Alwyn.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Smallest Show on Earth?
The Smallest Show on Earth holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.).