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Circus World

Play trailer Poster for Circus World 1964 2h 15m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 33% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
When Matt Masters (John Wayne) takes his ailing circus on a tour of Europe, it's not simply to put its finances back into order. He's also there on a romantic quest to find his old flame Lili Alfredo (Rita Hayworth), whose daughter Toni (Claudia Cardinale) he raised. But both missions are put in jeopardy when the ship ferrying his circus across the Atlantic sinks. But the show must go on -- and Masters pulls out all the stops to make the tour a success and reunite with Lili.

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
Philip K. Scheuer Los Angeles Times Director Hathaway uses a pro's skill continuously to blend laughs, pathos and excitement. Good show. Dec 2, 2020 Full Review 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. Rated: 1.5/5 May 9, 2005 Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com The ONLY John Wayne film not currently available, and well worth seeing. Rated: 3/5 Feb 17, 2008 Full Review TV Guide This big, sprawling film, beautifully filmed in Cinerama, has Wayne as the owner/manager of a small-time circus. Rated: 3/4 Oct 22, 2007 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz 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. Rated: C+ Mar 5, 2006 Full Review 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. Rated: D Nov 9, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (14) audience reviews
StephenPaul C The worst 2.25 hours ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/07/23 Full Review steve d unconvincing and down right boring. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member 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 while supposedly being raise by him, he of course talks like John Wayne. Not a terrible film but diffuse and without a strong point of view, that may be because the film was begun by Frank Capra and finished by Henry Hathaway so there was no clear vision as to the shape the film was suppose to offer. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Seen in its original 70mm format this might have been quite enjoyable since its spectacle nature would have glossed over the dramatic flaws. Still, it's not a bad film and is often interesting in how it deconstructs John Wayne's persona as a Western icon. Here the Western mythology is reduced to a circus performance, highlighting its inherent falseness. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member The lost world of circuses with John Wayne, Claudia Cardinale and Rita Hayworth. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Even though it is an old movie, I found it a very good story and very entertaining too! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Circus World

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Circus World

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Matt Masters (John Wayne) takes his ailing circus on a tour of Europe, it's not simply to put its finances back into order. He's also there on a romantic quest to find his old flame Lili Alfredo (Rita Hayworth), whose daughter Toni (Claudia Cardinale) he raised. But both missions are put in jeopardy when the ship ferrying his circus across the Atlantic sinks. But the show must go on -- and Masters pulls out all the stops to make the tour a success and reunite with Lili.
Director
Henry Hathaway
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
2h 15m