3 Ring Circus
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Three Ring Circus
Plot
According to some eyewitness reports, the feud between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis was at its peak during the filming of Three Ring Circus. Other observers have noted that the boys behaved with thorough professionalism throughout the shoot. Whatever the case, the film offers a comparatively relaxed Martin and Lewis, wandering through a thinnish plot with amiable finesse. The boys play a couple of ex-GIs who use their discharge money to finance a trip to Florida, where Jerry Hotchkiss (Lewis) hopes to land a job as a circus clown. Pete Nelson (Martin) isn't quite as ambitious, though he decides to stick around when he meets gorgeous circus owner Jill Brent (Joanne Dru). As the plot rolls merrily on, Pete finds himself assisting temperamental aerialist Saadia (Zsa Zsa Gabor), while Jerry does his best (which is none too good) as the assistant to lion tamer Schlitz (Sig Ruman). When Puffo the Clown (Gene Sheldon) drinks himself into oblivion, Jerry takes Puffo's place, proving his worth by getting a crippled child to laugh. The songs are mostly forgettable, with the exception of the now-standard "It's a Great, Wide, Wonderful World." ~ Hal Erickson, RoviCast
- Dean Martin - Pete Nelson
- Jerry Lewis - Jerry Hotchkiss
- Joanne Dru - Jill Brent
- Zsa Zsa Gabor - Saadia
- Elsa Lanchester - Bearded Lady
- Wallace Ford - Sam Morley
Credit
Nick Castle - Choreography, Edith Head - Costume Designer, Joseph Pevney - Director, Warren Low - Editor, Walter Scharf - Composer (Music Score), Ray Evans - Songwriter, Jay Livingston - Songwriter, Tambi Larsen - Production Designer, Hal Pereira - Production Designer, Loyal Griggs - Cinematographer, Hal B. Wallis - Producer, Don McGuire - Screenwriter| Three Reasons for Haste (1909 Film), Three Queens and a Jack (1910 Film) | |
| Three Rings and a Goat (1915 Film), Three Rogues (1931 Film) |
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3 Ring Circus
| 3 Ring Circus | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Joseph Pevney |
| Produced by | Hal B Wallis |
| Written by | Don McGuire Joseph Pevney |
| Starring | Dean Martin Jerry Lewis Joanne Dru Zsa Zsa Gabor Sig Ruman |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | December 25, 1954 |
| Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $4 million (US)[1] |
3 Ring Circus is a 1954 film comedy starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. It was shot from February 17 to March 31, 1954 and released on December 25 by Paramount Pictures.
The film was the first starring Martin and Lewis to be shot in VistaVision. A clip from it was shown in a promotional short film, Paramount Presents VistaVision.
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Contents
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Plot
Peter Nelson and Jerry Hotchkiss have just gotten out of the army. Hotchkiss decides to use the G.I. Bill to become a lion tamer. He gets a job with the Clyde Brent Circus (in reality the Clyde Beatty Circus), whose owner, Jill Brent, is in financial difficulties. Nelson tags along.
Hotchkiss, while learning the lion trade, also does odd jobs at the circus, including filling in for the Human Cannonball. His real dream is to become a circus clown.
Nelson, meanwhile, is shown a romantic interest by Saadia, Queen of the Trapeze, and quickly gets a job as her assistant. Brent has also shown interest in Nelson and becomes jealous.
Hotchkiss finds Puffo the Clown in a drunken state, so he seizes the opportunity and fills in for Puffo. He takes the name "Jerrico the Wonder Clown" and becomes the new star of the circus.
In the end, Nelson and Brent get together, and the circus is in better shape than ever thanks to its new clown.
Cast
- Dean Martin as Peter "Pete" Nelson
- Jerry Lewis as Jerome F. "Jerry" Hotchkiss
- Joanne Dru as Jill Brent
- Zsa Zsa Gabor as Saadia
- Wallace Ford as Sam Morley
- Sig Ruman as Colonel Fritz Schlitz, Lion Tamer
- Gene Sheldon as Puffo the Clown
- Nick Cravat as Timmy
- Elsa Lanchester as The Bearded Lady
Alternate versions
An edited version was released by Paramount in 1978 entitled Jerrico The Wonder Clown and shown at children's matinees.
DVD release
Due to unspecified reasons, this film remains the only Martin and Lewis film without a home release.
References
- ^ "Variety Top Film Grosses of 1955", Film Data for 1955 accessed 25 May 2012
External links
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