Trapeze

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Trapeze

Released May 30, 1956

1h 45m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

75%

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8 Reviews

62%

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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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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

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Tom Parkinson

Billboard

An insistence for accuracy --presumably by Lancaster-- is evident.

Mar 28, 2023

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Raquel Stecher

Out of the Past

enjoyable film

Sep 25, 2018

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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

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Tacky circus thriller and overwrought love triangle melodrama.

Rated: C+

Apr 25, 2008

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Daniel M. Kimmel

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

(No quote available.)

Rated: 4/5

Jan 30, 2004

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Steve D

Fine but unmemorable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/08/24

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

Fun, gripping and sizzling with chemistry between all of the leads!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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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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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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