Circus World (The Magnificent Showman)

Circus World (The Magnificent Showman) (1964)

  • 40% of critics liked it
    (5 reviews)

  • 45% of users liked it
    (336 ratings)

Filmed in Cinerama and Technicolor, Circus World may have drawn the crowds for various reasons -- not the least, perhaps, for the big names. John Wayne stars as circus owner Matt Masters, who takes his show to Europe hoping to save it from financial ruin. Accompanying Matt, is young Toni (Claudia… More

Unrated, 2 hr. 12 min.
Directed By
Henry Hathaway
Written By
Ben Hecht, Julian Halevy, James Edward Grant, Bernard Gordon
Genres
Drama, Romance, Classics
In Theaters
Jun 25, 1964 Wide
On DVD
Jan 1, 1998

Critic Reviews

  • Bosley Crowther, New York Times

    Heaven help all those other people who, deep down, remain to be convinced of the irresistibility of the circus. They're in for a terrible jolt.

  • Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

    The ONLY John Wayne film not currently available, and well worth seeing.

  • , TV Guide's Movie Guide

    This big, sprawling film, beautifully filmed in Cinerama, has Wayne as the owner/manager of a small-time circus.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    John Wayne goes to the Big Top in a Samuel Bronston produced film that has the Duke's role custom-made to fit his rooting-tooting western persona.

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Begun by Capra and Completed by Hathaway, Circus World is one of John Wayne's weakest star vehicles, neither entertaining as an adventure nor convincing as a family melodrama.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • jay n


    Worth seeing for the odd pairing of John Wayne and Rita Hayworth. They actually interact well but Rita's part is minor considering her star status and the story is weak. Claudia is lovely but totally unbelievable as Duke's daughter speaking with her natural Italian accent… More

Cast

See full cast

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