Main Cast: Red Skelton, Tim Considine, Jane Greer, Loring Smith, Philip Ober
Release Year: 1953
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
Plot
An unofficial remake of The Champ, The Clown concerns Dodo Delwyn (Red Skelton), a down-and-out performer with abundant and obvious talent, but also a self-destructive tendency to overindulge his drinking and gambling habits. Once a Ziegfeld headliner, Dodo is now lucky to get jobs playing a clown at cheap amusement parks and even cheaper burlesque. Dodo's addictions cost him his marriage, but he somehow is able to maintain custody of his son Dink (Tim Considine), whose love for and faith in his father knows no bounds. Dink and Dodo's desperate need for each other is threatened when Dink's mother -- married again and capable of providing him with a better life -- reappears and explains that she wants to take care of the boy herself. Dink goes behind his father's back to locate his old agent, and begs him to help Dodo; but the agent cannot do anything. Dink goes away with his mother, but is miserable and runs back to his father. The agent, meanwhile, has managed to wrangle a TV show for Dodo -- and now that his son is back and needs him, Dodo resolves to find the courage to take up this offer and make a success of it. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Lou Lubin - Little Julie; Fay Roope - Dr. Strauss; Walter Reed - Joe Hoagley; Jonathan Cott - Floor director; Don Beddoe - Gallagher; Steve Forrest - Young Man; Billy Barty - Dundee; Linda Bennett - Judy; George Boyce; Lennie Bremen - George; Charles Buchinsky - Eddie; Charles Calvert - Jackson; Steve Carruthers - Maitre d'Hotel; George Pat Collins - Mr. Christenson; Thomas P. Dillon - Clancy; Joe Evans; Ned Glass - Danny Dayler; Sandra Gould - Bunny; John Heasley; Robert Heasley - Twin; Al Hill; Donald Kerr; Jess Kirkpatrick - Sergeant; Lucy Knoch - Girl; Forrest Lewis - Pawnbroker; Mickey Little - Lefty; Eddie Marr - Television Director; Tony Merrill - Ad-Libber; Helene Millard - Miss Batson; Gil Perkins - Dundee; Lee Phelps - Sergeant; Vicki Raaf - Woman; Paul Raymond - Young Man; Danny Richards, Jr. - Herman; Karen Steele - Blonde; Bob Stephenson - Counterman; Jimmy Thompson; Martha Wentworth - Neighbor; Wilson Wood - Wardrobe Man; Shirley Mitchell - Mrs. Blotto; Robert Ford - Al Zerney; Brick Sullivan - Stagehand; Mary Foran - Heavy Girl; Mickey Golden - Attendant; James W. Horan; Allen O'Locklin; Barry Regan - Dice Player; Jerry Schumacher; Cy Stevens - Makeup Man; John R. McKee - Counterman; Al Freeman - Man; Roger Moore - Man with Hogarth; Frank Nelson - Charlie; David Blair - TV Pageboy
