Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

The Smallest Show on Earth

Play trailer Poster for The Smallest Show on Earth Released Nov 22, 1957 1h 20m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 3 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
When Matt Spenser (Bill Travers) and his wife, Jean (Virginia McKenna), inherit a small cinema, the Bijou, from a distant relative, they are shocked to find a decrepit building that comes with a group of aging employees. Matt and Jean try to sell the Bijou to Albert Hardcastle (Francis De Wolff), the owner of a large nearby cinema, but he gives them a lowball offer. Instead, they decide to open the theater, using a few clever marketing schemes to gain viewers at the expense of Hardcastle.

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin The whole weight of this gay idea is carried by Bernard Miles, Margaret Rutherford and Peter Sellers... Outside these three, the film is a rather poor example of conventional British screen comedy, with stock characters and situations. Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 3, 2005 Full Review Amber Wilkinson Eye for Film Very much an ensemble piece, it relies heavily on sight gags and cinema business. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 3, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (32) audience reviews
Alan S Remember it's made in the 1950s for a 1950s audience It was really popular in its time playing to sold out houses when an average cinema seated seated a thousand or more. A gentle comedy for all the family Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/03/24 Full Review isla s I found this film a gentle comedy - it was quite funny, in a nostalgic way. The story was interesting and the characters quirky. I found it a very good watch. My favourite character was Mrs. Fazackalee, who is often referred to and I found myself giggling at the mention of her name, possibly due to the tone used when it was said?. Its hard to fully review this film other than to say its an old British comedy from the late 1950s and I enjoyed the story, finding it funny at numerous points, with an interesting variety of quirky characters - it has one or two morals about it which I liked and I would happily recommend this film to others. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Feel good film with lots of fabulous actors. It is based in the fifties so a little dared but light and amusing with a great community story. Saw this first as a child in the sixties but still amuses me Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review s r It feels like an Ealing comedy. It was sweet and fun. There should be more humor and movies like this. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Sweet & funny tale of making a bad business work again, when even the things in your favor are net negatives. If this were to be remade, I would change the ending to having the silent film bit be successfully commercialized. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review yannis a Good fun, helped by a charming screenplay! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Smallest Show on Earth

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew
View All The Smallest Show on Earth photos

The Smallest Show on Earth

The Smallest Show on Earth (1957) The Smallest Show on Earth (1957) The Smallest Show on Earth (1957) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Matt Spenser (Bill Travers) and his wife, Jean (Virginia McKenna), inherit a small cinema, the Bijou, from a distant relative, they are shocked to find a decrepit building that comes with a group of aging employees. Matt and Jean try to sell the Bijou to Albert Hardcastle (Francis De Wolff), the owner of a large nearby cinema, but he gives them a lowball offer. Instead, they decide to open the theater, using a few clever marketing schemes to gain viewers at the expense of Hardcastle.
Director
Basil Dearden
Producer
Sidney Gilliat, Frank Launder, Michael Relph
Screenwriter
John Eldredge, William Rose
Distributor
Times Film Corporation
Production Co
British Lion
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 22, 1957, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 9, 2017
Runtime
1h 20m