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Trapeze

Play trailer Poster for Trapeze Released May 30, 1956 1h 45m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Mike Ribble (Burt Lancaster) is a hard-drinking tent pitcher. His career as a famous trapeze artist ended years ago after attempting a triple somersault gave him a permanent limp. Young acrobat Tino (Tony Curtis) tracks Mike down and asks him to teach him the dangerous stunt. Mike first refuses but is convinced by his ex-lover, Rosa (Katy Jurado). Mike and Tino have a shot at the big time, but the two men are driven apart by the scheming of Lola (Gina Lollobrigida), an Italian trampolinist.
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Trapeze

Critics Reviews

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Pat Pinkerton Orlando Sentinel The Hecht-Lancaster production moves deep into the color and sweat of circus life and its myriad characters. Oct 8, 2021 Full Review Tom Parkinson Billboard An insistence for accuracy --presumably by Lancaster-- is evident. Mar 28, 2023 Full Review Raquel Stecher Out of the Past enjoyable film Sep 25, 2018 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Enjoyable trash: Carol Reed's circus melodrama is one of his most commercially successful but artistically weakest film; there's more erotic tension between Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis than between either man and love interest Gina Lillobrigida. Rated: C+ Jul 19, 2009 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Tacky circus thriller and overwrought love triangle melodrama. Rated: C+ Apr 25, 2008 Full Review Daniel M. Kimmel Worcester Telegram & Gazette (No quote available.) Rated: 4/5 Jan 30, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Will G One of the greats. To all the nay sayers, let's watch the movie you made next. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/03/25 Full Review Steve D Fine but unmemorable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/08/24 Full Review Audience Member Gina Lollobrigida was hot, Lancaster is a bad actor, and the story is cliche. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review william d Okay, it ain't Gone With the Wind, but I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Lancaster,Curtis and Lollobrigida as a trio of trapeze flyers.Young Curtis wants to learn the famous triple somersault from old vet Lancaster,who's crippled from a fatal fall.In comes Lollobrigida making trouble for the two flyers both on the ground and in the air. One of the most enjoyable films about life under the big top.The trio of stars deliver sock performances worthy of their star status.Carol Reed's direction of the triple somersault is breathtakingly staged.Don't miss this one. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member A colorful, melodramatic love triangle set against the backdrop of a prestigious Paris Circus. Although rather predictable & very Hollywood in its nature the color is beautiful & striking. The story basically revolves around the greatest trapeze artist not long after his near fatal blow trying to perform the coveted triple flip. He takes on a young with much promise before the lady comes on the scene & tensions mount. Nothing original story wise but the backdrop of the circus is great. It's fun & exciting film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Trapeze

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Cast & Crew

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Carol Reed

Director

Burt Lancaster

Mike Ribble

Gina Lollobrigida

Lola

Tony Curtis

Tino Orsini

Katy Jurado

Rosa

Thomas Gomez

Bouglione

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Trapeze

Trapeze (1956) Trapeze (1956) Trapeze (1956) Trapeze (1956) Trapeze (1956) Trapeze (1956) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Mike Ribble (Burt Lancaster) is a hard-drinking tent pitcher. His career as a famous trapeze artist ended years ago after attempting a triple somersault gave him a permanent limp. Young acrobat Tino (Tony Curtis) tracks Mike down and asks him to teach him the dangerous stunt. Mike first refuses but is convinced by his ex-lover, Rosa (Katy Jurado). Mike and Tino have a shot at the big time, but the two men are driven apart by the scheming of Lola (Gina Lollobrigida), an Italian trampolinist.
Director
Carol Reed
Producer
Harold Hecht, James Hill, Burt Lancaster
Screenwriter
Max Catto, Liam O'Brien, James R. Webb, Ben Hecht, Wolf Mankowitz
Distributor
United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
Hill-Hecht-Lancaster Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 30, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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