Trapeze

Director: Carol Reed Carol Reed

Overview

In this drama, Burt Lancaster plays a crippled acrobat, disabled after attempting to perform a dangerous maneuver. Tony Curtis plays an aspiring aerialist who coerces Lancaster into teaching him the trade. The friendship between Lancaster and Curtis is threatened by the arrival of ambitious circus tumbler Gina Lollobridgida.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/17/2009
UPC:	4897007032815
Original Release:	1956
Source:	Castaway Pictures
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:45:00
Sales rank:	1,921

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Burt Lancaster	Mike Ribble
Gina Lollobrigida	Lola
Tony Curtis	Tino Orsini
Thomas Gomez	Directeur Bouglione
Katy Jurado	Rosa
Johnny Puleo	Max the Dwarf
Minor Watson	John Ringling North
Gerard Landry	Chikki
Sidney James	Snake Charmer,Actor
Gabrielle Fontan	Old Woman
Pierre Tabard	Paul
Gamil Ratib	Stefan
Michel Thomas	Ringmaster
Edward Hagopian	Actor
Edward Ward	Actor
Sally Marlowe	Actor
Fay Alexander	Actor
Willy Krause	Actor
Betty Codreano	Actor
Mme. Felco Cipriano	Actor
Simpion Bouglione	Actor
Zavatta	Actor
Mylos	Actor
Lulu and Tonio	Actor
Jean-Pierre Kérien	Otto
Roland Carey	un trapéziste
Henri Coutet	Actor
Lucien Desagneaux	Actor
Sylvain Levignac	Actor
Henri Lopez	Actor
Malcolm Arnold	Composer

Technical Credits

James R. Webb

Max Catto

Liam O'Brien

Carol Reed	Director
James R. Webb	Screenwriter
James Hill	Producer
Jack Lannan	Special Effects
Max Catto	Screenwriter
Harold Hecht	Producer
Jacques Carrère	Sound Effects
Francis J. Scheid	Sound Effects
Teddy Mason	Sound Effects
Liam O'Brien	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

The story is nothing to write home about, but Trapeze is an entertaining way to pass a couple of hours, thanks in no small part to its director, cast and cinematographer. The setting is a help, too -- the exciting world of the circus, and especially that section of the circus dedicated to aerial artists. Again, you're not going to watch Trapeze for the originality of its story or for crackling good dialogue; the plot is a typical triangle (although there's a hidden undercurrent of homosexuality that threatens to break through now and then) and the dialogue is on the predictable side. But the story does provide characters with just enough meat on them for Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina Lollabrigida to get some acting dust stirred up along the way. More importantly, the story provides plenty of excuses for some impressive trapeze action. Even when doubles are used (as is obviously the case in several instances, especially where Lollabrigida is concerned), it's still exciting to watch -- and beautiful, to boot. Director Carol Reed is not at the top of his form in terms of the storytelling, but he and cinematographer Robert Krasker use the camera to excellent effect throughout, not merely in the trapeze sections. Compositions are lovely, and there's a sense of drama to the manner in which the scenes are laid out. Not great, Trapeze is still a fine sawdust-filled way to pass the afternoon.