Circus World

1964

2h 15m

Drama

List

50%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

32%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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StephenPaul C

The worst 2.25 hours ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/07/23

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steve d

unconvincing and down right boring.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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kevin w

It's a big production of a film, but still essentially a minor soap opera with the Duke running a circus/Wild West show. Despite the name of the movie, the traditional circus acts are given nearly an incidental status (except for the clowns) whereas the Wild West portions are shown in their entirety (I wonder why?). But Rita Hayworth as a tortured runaway mom centers and steals the whole magilla, elegant and magnetic in her matronly years.

Rated 3 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

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Audience Member

The lost world of circuses with John Wayne, Claudia Cardinale and Rita Hayworth.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

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Henry Hathaway

Director

John Wayne

Matt Masters

Rita Hayworth

Lili Alfredo

Claudia Cardinale

Toni Alfredo

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33%

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85%

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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

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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

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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