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back on page one: top of page brief history links short cartoons silent films sound films & TV films & TV - 1940

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search DVDs & Blu-ray on keyword 'circus' at Amazon returns 1,600+ titles
search on keyword 'circus' at Internet Movie Database returns 1,000+ films

Circus Films & TV - 1960

"Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks With A Circus" [Disney Jan 1960] /tt0054390/
http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Weeks-Circus-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B00BEBOU96/

"Life Is A Circus" [Feb 1960] /tt0051863/ with Lionel Jeffries as the Genie

"Circus of Horrors" color feature [A.I.P. April 1960] /tt0053717/

"Cirkus Buster" [Denmark Oct 1961] /tt0054751/

"Frontier Circus" (1961–1962) hourlong Western TV series /tt0054540/

"Billy Rose's Jumbo" [1962] /tt0055797/

"Dom bez Okien" [Poland Aug 1962] /tt0055918/

"The Main Attraction" [M.G.M./Seven Arts Nov 1962] /tt0056212/
starring Pat Boone, Nancy Kwan & Mai Zetterling

"Road To The Stage" aka "Tchanaparh depi Krkes" [Russia 1963] /tt0187433/
Famous clown Leonid Yengibarov stars in this film about the artistic quest of a talented circus actor.

"The Greatest Show On Earth" [1963] TV series /tt0056762/

"The Ape Woman (La Donna Scimmia)" [Italy 1964] /tt0057006/

"7 Faces of Dr. Lao" [1964] /tt0057812/

"Roustabout" [1964] /tt0058534/ starring Elvis Presley & Barbara Stanwyck

"A Tiger Walks" [March 1964] /tt0058657/ starring Brian Keith, Vera Miles, Pamela Franklin

"Circus World" [Paramount/Rank June 1964]

Mostly filmed in Spain, with scenes in London & Paris; photographed in Technicolor™ and SuperTechnirama70™; Matt Masters takes his Wild West Show to Europe (circa 1900), partly to find his lost love, an aerialist; on arrival in Spain, the ship capsizes and Matt is penniless; he hurries to Paris, France and asks for a job with Colonel Purdy's Wild West Show; a year later Matt is back on his feet and touring the capitols of Europe . . . Produced by Samuel Bronston; directed by Henry Hathaway; screenplay by Ben Hecht, Julian Zimet & James Edward Grant, based on original story by Nicholas Ray & [blacklistee] Bernard Gordon; original music by Dimitri Tiomkin; starring John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, Claudia Cardinale, Lloyd Nolan, Richard Conte, John Smith & Katharyna Region 1 DVD/Blu-ray not available Best Film & Video Co. widescreen color VHS [3/91] 2 tapes for $19.99 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Parable" short [Sept 1964] /tt0320239/ Jesus at the circus

"Freddy, Tiere, Sensationen" [Germany Dec 1964] /tt0058115/

"Yoyo" (France Feb 1965) /tt0059934/ Co-written & directed by and starring Pierre Étaix

"Fifi la Plume" [France Oct 1965] /tt0059177/

"Viva Maria!" [United Artists Nov 1965]

Filmed in Mexico, in Eastmancolor & Panavision; the daughter of an Irish revolutionary joins a circus travel-ing across Central America, creating a sexy stage act with a second woman named Maria; they meet a hand-some revolutionary, and when he is killed, promise to continue the fight against oppression by the dictatorial government, by greedy capitalists, and by the church. Co-written & directed by Louis Malle; co-written by Jean-Claude Carrière; starring Brigitte Bardot, Jeanne Moreau {won BAFTA} & George Hamilton M.G.M. Video & DVD widescreen color Region A/1 Blu-ray [1/2012] for $42.69 M.G.M. Video & DVD widescreen color DVD [4/2005] for $10.33 M.G.M. Video & DVD color VHS [9/98] for $8.89 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Notes On The Circus" 12-minute documentary [1966] /tt0209191/ Directed by Jonas Mekas

"Circus of Fear" [A.I.P. 1966] /tt0060865/ directed by John Moxey
simultaneous bilingual German version directed by Werner Jacobs

"Schwarze Panther (Black Panther)" [East Germany Aug 1966] /tt0060947/

"Europe's Big Top Circus Stars: Live From The Hippodrome"
TV series [Rediffusion/I.T.V./CBS-TV July-Aug 1966]

Footage from ten hour-long episodes edited down to five hours on 3 disks; guest ringmasters include Woody Allen, Jack Carter, Bill Dana, Jimmy Dean, Merv Griffin, Trini López, Tony Randall & Allen Sherman Timeless Media color DVD [3/2008] 3 disks for $29.98 partial "The Hippodrome Show" credits at IMDb

"Berserk" [1967] /tt0061398/

"The Valley of Gwangi" [Warner Bros./Seven Arts 1969] /tt0065163/
with stop-motion dinosaurs by Ray Harryhausen

"The Clowns" [Italy 1970] TV /tt0066922/ by Federico Fellini [1920-93]

"Mera Naam Joker" [India Dec 1970]

In Hindi with English subtitles; four-hour saga in 3-parts; a poor boy follows his father's profession as a circus clown, giving his heart to the audience and also to various women, but losing each in the end. Directed by & starring Raj Kapoor; script by K.A. Abbas, based on elements of Kapoor's public & private life; also starring Simi Garewal, Manoj Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Dara Singh, Kseniya Ryabinkina, Padmini & Rajendra Kumar; won 5 India Filmfare Awards Shemaroo Ent. 255-minute color DVD [1/2004] for $9.86 Shemaroo Ent. 224-minute color DVD [1/2004] for $6.82 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

apparently remade in 2000; no other info found

"Vampire Circus" [Oct 1972] /tt0067924/

"Fe, Esperanza y Caridad" 3-part anthology film [Mexico Feb 1974] /tt0065716/ starring Katy Jurado

"Punch and Jody" TV movie [NBC-TV Nov 1974] /tt0072044/ starring Glenn Ford

"Parade" [France Dec 1974]

Cinema master Jacques Tati [1907-82] portrays a clown at a circus; this color TV movie is more than a filmed circus performance, more like a Fellini-esque meditation on art and life, on the desire to contribute, to express oneself and one's passions. Written & directed by and starring Jacques Tati; also starring Karl Kossmayer, Pierre Bramma, Michèle Brabo, Pia Colombo, Johnny Lonn, Bertilo, Jan Swahn, Bertil Berglund & Moniqa Sunnerberg Region 1 DVD/Blu-ray not available (2013) Homevision color VHS [6/2000] out of prodn/used full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"The Astrologer" [1975] /tt2419808/

"Cirkus v Cirkuse" [Czechoslovakia Feb 1976] /tt0073728/ directed by Oldrich Lipský

"The Clown Murders" [1976]
Not really circus: Four friends don clown costumes and pull a kidnapping prank, but a fifth clown shows up intent on killing them all.

"Circus of The Stars" [1977-94] not available on DVD/Blu-ray
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_of_the_Stars
Circus of the Stars #7 (1982) (TV Special) /tt0242375/
Circus of the Stars #8 (1983) (TV Special) /tt0242376/
Circus of the Stars #12 (1987) (TV Special) /tt0242368/
Circus of the Stars #14 (1989) (TV Special) /tt0097065/
Circus of the Stars and Sideshow (1992) (TV Special) /tt2137445/

"Little Big Top" 10-minute short [Canada 1977] 0223645

"Bozo's Circus" [1977-78?] family TV series /tt0254011/

"The Great Wallendas" TV movie [1978] /tt0077635/

"El Circo de Capulina" [Mexico 1978] /tt0075854/

"The Last Romantic Lover (Le Dernier Amant Romantique)" [France 1978, USA 1979] /tt0077689/

"Tsirkachonok (Circus Boy)" [Russia 1979] /tt0128796/

Circus Films & TV - 1980

"O Grande Palhaço" [Brasil 1980] /tt0190430/ featuring the Gran Bartollo Circus

"Bronco Billy" [1980] starring Clint Eastwood /tt0080472/

"Bye Bye Brazil" [Brasil Feb 1980] /tt0080482/

"Carny" [1980] /tt0080500/
Starring Gary Busey, Jodie Foster, Robbie Robertson, Meg Foster

"When The Circus Came To Town" (1981 TV Movie) /tt0083323/

"Leave 'em Laughing" TV movie [CBS-TV April 1981] /tt0082646/
Starring Mickey Rooney, Anne Jackson, Allen Garfield & Red Buttons
http://www.amazon.com/Leave-Em-Laughing-Mickey-Rooney/dp/B008BJU0XE/

"The Funhouse" [Universal Pictures March 1981] /tt0082427/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Funhouse-Elizabeth-Berridge/dp/B00023P4SS/

"Side Show" TV movie [June 1981] /tt0083075/

"Os Saltimbancos Trapalhões (The Robber Tramps)" [Brasil Dec 1981] /tt0138073/

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" [1983] /tt0086336/
based on the novel by Ray Bradbury [1920-2012]

"Cannonball!" [indep 1984] /tt2165675/
30-minute color film directed by Gary Templeton; based on the book "Cannonball Simp" by John Burningham
http://www.amazon.com/Cannonball-Gary-Templeton/dp/B0001EKM6W/
http://www.amazon.com/Cannonball-Simp-John-Burningham/dp/0672502399/
Hugo the Clown's circus cannon act just isn't getting the laughs it once did; when it looks like
he might have to leave the circus, a feisty little dog comes to the rescue...

"Dumbo's Circus" [1985] cable TV Series /tt0252399/ using 'puppetronics'

"Death Stalks The Big Top" two-episode story on "Murder, She Wrote" [CBS-TV 1986]

Both episodes exec-produced & story by Peter S. Fischer; directed by Seymour Robbie; starring Angela Lansbury, Martin Balsam, Jackie Cooper, Alex Cord, Courteney Cox, Ronny Cox, Joey Cramer, Laraine Day, Greg Evigan, Florence Henderson, Gregg Henry, Charles Napier, Lee Purcell & Mark Shera Columbia House/Warner color VHS [1997] out of prodn/scarce available on the "Murder She Wrote: Complete Third Season" DVD Set [2006] Universal Studios color DVD set [3/2006] 3 disks for $26.50 Part 1 [CBS-TV Sept 1986] Jessica's niece receives a silver charm wedding gift from a relative supposedly long dead, and Jessica's investigation leads to a troubled circus company; an artist bully is beaten to death with a baseball bat and the episode ends with a surprise confession • full credits at IMDb Part 2 [CBS-TV Oct 1986] While Jessica's brother-in-law is in jail, the owner of a rival circus is murdered in his hotel room and then an attempt is made on Jessica's life, which convinces her that she knows the killer's identity . . . full credits at IMDb

"Killer Klowns From Outer Space" [1988]

Another clown-horror B-movie that is not really about the circus; but this one is a major cult classic, and a sequel is supposedly in development - in 3-D! Nasty-looking clown-faced aliens arrive on Planet Earth near Crescent City and begin attacking and eating humans and also covering them with cotton candy to preserve for eating later. Written & co-produced by Charles, Edward & Stephen Chiodo; directed by Stephen Chiodo; starring Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson, John Vernon, Michael Siegel, Peter Licassi, Royal Dano, Christopher Titus, Irene Michaels & Karla Sue Krull; Killer Klowns were portrayed by Steve Rockhold, Michael Harington Burris, Geno Ponza, Scott Beatty, Paul Haley, Dennis C. Walsh, Genie Houdini, Charles Chiodo, Karl Shaeffer, Paul Parsons, Jimmy Locust, Mitch Bryan & Greg Sykes M.G.M. Video & DVD widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2012] for $12.99 M.G.M. Video & DVD widescreen color DVD [8/2001] for $9.74 M.G.M. Video & DVD color DVD [8/2001] out of prodn/used soundtrack CD by composer John Massari [undated] out of prodn/scarce M.G.M. Music MP3 soundtrack album by composer John Massari [6/2008] 21 tracks for $7.99 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"The Return of The Killer Klowns From Outer Space" in 3-D [in development?]
Announced 5/2011 by the Chiodo Brothers (still looking for a distribution deal in 2013?) • latest info at IMDb
watch 5/2011 official trailer [1:04] at YouTube

"Big Top Pee-Wee" [1988] /tt0094744/

"Circus Boys" (Nijisseiki Shônen Dokuhon)" [Japan 1989] /tt0122631/

"¡Dispara!" [Spain Oct 1993] /tt0108670/ directed by Carlos Saura

"Alphabet Factory: At The Circus" video release [1995]

23-minute color video featuring the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus; mention of Edwin S. Porter is an Amazon mistake Tapeworm Video Distrbn color VHS [1995] out of prodn/used DVD/Blu-ray not available • not listed on IMDb

"Sawdust Tales" [Republic of Türkiye Nov 1997] /tt0134185/awards

"First International Circus Arts Festival In Budapest" video [1997] /tt0473633/
http://www.amazon.com/First-International-Circus-Festival-Budapest/dp/630594363X/

"The Circus Train" episode of "Trains Unlimited" [History Channel 1997-98]
episode not listed on IMDb • A&E Home Video VHS [8/2001] for $15.95

"The Countess of Bâton Rouge" [Canada Feb 1998] /tt0118879/
http://www.matilarohr.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=33&Itemid=15

"Preciosa" miniseries [Televisa Mexico 1998, USA 1999] /tt0164277/ starring Irán Castillo

"Fire-Eater (Tulennielijä)" [Finland Oct 1998] /tt0120872/

"Zirkus Palestina" [Israel Nov 1998] /tt0163586/
Written & directed by Eyal Halfon; won seven Awards of the Israeli Film Academy

"Le Nain Rouge (The Red Dwarf)" b&w feature [France Dec 1998] /tt0156820/
A dwarf falls in love with an older woman (Anita Ekberg) and later kills her.

"The First of May" [March 1999] /tt0132160/
starring Julie Harris, Dan Byrd & Mickey Rooney • official movie website

"Le Sourire du Clown (The Smile of The Clown)" [France July 1999] /tt0205422/

"Girl On The Bridge (La Fille sur Le Pont)" [France 1999] /tt0144201/

"Great American Circus & Show Trains" [Pentrex 1999]

105-minute documentary that includes footage of the annual Circus World Museum loadup & move from Baraboo to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and of the 61-car James E. Strates Carnival train. Pentrex color DVD [10/99] out of prodn/used Pentrex color VHS [10/99] for $41.29

"Zircus Nemo" [Denmark 1999] video /tt0324660/
"Zirkus Nemo: Nu med Neger" [Denmark 2000] video /tt0321029/
"Zirkus Nemo" [Denmark 2002] TV movie /tt0486518/
"Zirkus Nemo: Nu med Neon" [Denmark 2003] video /tt0386137/

Circus Films & TV - 2000

"Starkiss: Circus Girls In India (Circusmeisjes In India)" [Netherlands Feb 2003] /tt0371255/

"Tough Luck" [2003] /tt0376263/ starring Armand Assante

"S.I.C.K." [2004]
Not really circus: Stupid campers and a killer clown in the Texas woods.

"Dead Clowns" [U.K. Aug 2004, USA July 2007]

A hurricane batters a Florida coastal town and brings clowns that were killed in the bay years before back from the dead - they are not pleased. Written & directed & music by Steve Sessions; starring Lucien Eisenach, Jeff Samford, Eric Spudic, Debbie Rochon, Brinke Stevens, William Riordan, Jeff Dylan Graham, Robyn Griggs, Jenn Ruliffson, Kimberly L. Cole, Brandon Carroll & Krystal Stevenson LionsGate widescreen color DVD [7/2007] for $12.78 full credits at IMDb • watch 5/2007 official trailer [1:08] at YouTube

"Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: A Day At The Circus" [April 2005]

Compilation DVD that is partly about the circus: Mr. Rogers learns how clowns put on their makeup; other contents include Musical Adventures, Sing-Along, Read-Along, and Neighborhood Gallery Starz/Anchor Bay 58-min. color DVD [4/2005] with bonus toy truck - out of prodn/SOLD OUT! Starz/Anchor Bay 58-min. color DVD [4/2005] out of prodn/used Anchor Bay 60-min. color VHS [4/2005] out of prodn/used

"A Flash of Light: The Photographs of E.J. Kelty" [July 2005]

Manhattan photographer Edward J. Kelty packed up every summer for twenty years and traveled with the circus – most often the big Ringling Bros. show – taking candid photographs and staging group shots. Then he suddenly closed up his New York business and moved to Chicago and never took another photograph. Co-produced by John Owen indep color/b&w DVD [July 2005] for $25.00 bare credits at IMDb • Derin Bray's Kelty photos fansite

"Mr. Jingles" aka "Jingles The Clown" [2006]
Not really circus: A woman is released from an insane asylum and returns to the house where her family was murdered by a killer clown.

"Free Jimmy (Slipp Jimmy Fri)"
[Norway April 2006, English 2008]

First CGI-animated feature film from Norway; NOTE: ADULT CONTENT • Three stoners and four hippies compete with animal rights activists and Lappish gangsters to capture a runaway drug-addicted circus elephant with secret knowledge of a fortune in cash. Written & directed by Christopher Nielsen; English voice actors include Jeremy Price, Woody Harrelson, Simon Pegg, Phil Daniels, Jay Simpson, Kyle MacLachlan, Samantha Morton, Jim Broadbent, Emilia Fox, Kris Marshall, Lisa Maxwell, James Cosmo, Douglas Henshall, David Tennant, Russell Barr, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss, William Hope & Megan Dodds Region 1 DVD/Blu-ray not available full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia watch 11/2006 trailer [2:06] at YouTube

"All About The Circus" children's video [2006]

Two 34-minute programs from the 'All About' children's video series, featuring Hard Hat Harry - the second is "All About The Rodeo" not listed on IMDb • Gaiam Entertainment color DVD [9/2006] for $4.99

"Little Big Top" [indep Oct 2006]

Filmed around Peru, Indiana; a failed third-generation circus clown returns home and talks his way into a job teaching a class on how to be a clown. Written & directed by Ward Roberts; starring Sid Haig, Richard Riehle, Hollis Resnik, Mel England, Jacob Zachar, Travis Betz, Devin Barry, Joanne Lee Bennett, Bryant M. Bennett & Lloyd L. Hill Morningstar Ent. color DVD [11/2008] out of prodn/used full credits at IMDb • official movie site watch official 9/2006 trailer [3:01] at YouTube

"Under The Little Big Top: Behind The Scenes Documentary" [2008]: full credits at IMDb

"Circus Rosaire" docufilm [festival circuit 2007-2009, video release 2010]

The Rosaire family have been circus performers for nine generations and are known for their unique and respectful manner of performing with animals; today they struggle to maintain their family heritage and adapt to the modern world of entertainment; filmed in Arizona (Tucson), California (Indio), Florida (Sarasota), Indiana, and The Bahamas (Nassau); featuring Clayton, Derrick, Ellian, Frederick & Kay Rosaire, Pamela Rosaire-Zoppe, and Dallas & Roger Zoppe Co-produced & filmed by Chad Wilson; co-produced & directed by Robyn Bliley full credits at IMDb • official producer website • official movie website disk #1 is the 93-minute documentary, disk #2 is a complete 70-minute performance Progressive Prodns widescreen color DVD [2010] 2 disks - out of prodn/used watch 8/2010 official trailer [3:36] online at YouTube • watch full movie [6/2012 upload; 1:30:01] online at YouTube

"American Carny: True Tales From The Circus Sideshow"
[video release 2008, cable TV 2009]

In-depth 99-minute documentary on carnival sideshows, from P.T. Barnum to the big-tent circus to the American Dime Museum in Baltimore to the last 'ten-in-one sideshow' at Brooklyn's Coney Island; broadcast on the Documentary Channel 10/2009. Co-produced & directed by Nick Basile; starring Todd Robbins, Ses Carny, Ward Hall, The Great Nippulini, Penn Jillette, Simon Lovell, Chris McDaniel, Dan Meyer, Stephen Mezo, Jennifer Miller, Harley Newman, David Oliver, James Taylor & Pete Terhune Koch Vision Ent. widescreen color DVD [1/2008] out of prodn/used full credits at IMDb • official movie site • watch 9/2008 official trailer [2:55] at YouTube

"Sawdust: Life In The Ring" video release [May 2009]

28-minute documentary film about members of the Zoppe Family Circus [est. 1842], now based in St. Louis, Missouri • Co-produced & co-directed by Jim Distasio & Mark McCutcheon; featuring Giovanni Zoppe, Alberto Zoppe, Sandra Zoppe & Tosca Zoppe Forward March Media color DVD-R [5/2009] for $14.00 not listed on IMDb • Zoppe Family Circus [est. 1842] official website

"The Butterfly Circus: The Short" [indep Aug 2009]

20-minute short film about a Depression Era travelling circus that brings hope to an armless and legless man being exploited by his freak show employer; the short went viral and has been seen online or purchased by millions, and voluntarily translated into multiple languages; feature version is pending (see below). Co-produced, co-written & directed by Joshua Weigel; co-produced & co-written by Rebekah Weigel; starring Eduardo Verástegui, Nick Vujicic, Doug Jones, Matt Allmen, Connor Rosen, Lexi Pearl, Bob Yerkes & Mark Atteberry; film won dozens of festival awards indep widescreen color DVD [6/2011] for $12.99 Amazon Instant Video [2011] 7-day rental $1.99, purchase $4.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie site • watch 12/2010 official trailer [2:44] at Vimeo

"Nick Vujicic: No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!" inspirational video [2010]
122-minute widescreen color DVD [2010] for $24.95

"Nick Vujicic: Biography of A Determined Man" documentary video [2010]
68-minute widescreen color DVD [2010] for $25.00

Nick Vujicic's non-profit organization Life Without Limbs [est. 2005]

"The Butterfly Circus: The Feature" [in development since 2009]
latest news about the feature-length version of "The Butterfly Circus"

"The Last Circus" aka "Balada Triste de Trompeta (Ballad of The Sad Trumpet)"
[Spain Dec 2010, USA Aug 2011]

The son of a circus clown gets hired as the Sad Clown, since he is not funny; the cruel Happy Clown bullies everyone, including his beautiful wife; Sad Clown decides to rescue the wife, which upsets the delicate dynamic of the circus . . . Written & directed by Álex de la Iglesia; starring Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Carolina Bang, Manuel Tallafé, Alejandro Tejerías, Manuel Tejada, Enrique Villén, Gracia Olayo & Sancho Gracia; won Silver Condor Award in Argentina, 2 Goya Awards (plus 13 noms), Sant Jordi Award, Turia Award, and 3 awards at Venice Film Festival Magnolia Home Ent. widescreen color Blu-ray [10/2011] for $12.99 Magnolia Home Ent. widescreen color DVD [10/2011] for $9.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie site

"The Circus Girl" 19-minute color short [Oct 2010]
Set in 1910; young Charlotte is being trained by her acrobat parents; she becomes worried that the circus might go out of business,
so she gets the key to mysterious Train Car Z . . . Co-produced & written by Sean V. Broadbent; directed by Sam Reynard; starring
Teresa Ornelas, Jon Morgan Woodward, Sean McBride, Kai Cofer, Luis Deveze, Claudia Lee & Emily Kimmel
credits at IMDb • DVD/Blu-ray not available • watch official March 2011 trailer [1:41] at Vimeo

"Circus" mini-series [PBS-TV Nov 2010]

A six-part P.B.S. documentary about the 2008–09 season of the Big Apple Circus; episode titles: 1) First of May, 2) One Ring Family, 3) Change On!, 4) Survival of The Fittest, 5) Born To Be Circus, and 6) Down The Road • Exec-produced & directed by Maro Chermayeff & Jeff Dupre P.B.S. Home Video color Blu-ray [11/2010] 3 disks for $9.99 P.B.S. Home Video color DVD [11/2010] 6 hours on 3 disks for $13.97 full credits at IMDb • official movie site • official circus website

"Circo" documentary video [First Run Features 2011]

Documentary film of a struggling 100-year-old family circus in Mexico, hunting for paying customers and struggling to make their meager living; bonus material includes an update on the Gran Circo Mexico and the Ponce family after the film was completed. A film by Aaron Schock; co-written & edited by Mark Becker; music by indie-rock band Calexico; won Golden Starfish Award at Hamptons Intl. Film Festival First Run Features color widescreen DVD [9/2011] for $18.93 credits at IMDb • official movie site watch 2/2011 official trailer [2:20] online at YouTube

"Watch Indian Circus (Dekh Indian Circus)" [India 2011]

Hindi-language film; poverty-stricken villagers save every penny for the future education of their children; when a circus visits a nearby village, they accept a bribe to vote for a local politician to buy circus tickets . . . Written & directed by Mangesh Hadawale; starring Tannishtha Chatterjee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Virendrapratap Rathore & Suhani Oza; won 5 India National Film Awards, including Golden Lotus for Best Children's Film VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • credits at IMDb

"Water For Elephants" [Fox April 2011]

Just at graduation from college in 1931, Jacob's life falls apart; he finds work with the struggling Benzini Brothers traveling circus and falls in love with the wife of the ruthless circus owner. Filmed in California, Georgia & Tennessee, especially on the Tennessee Valley Railroad near Chattanooga (with Engine #18 clearly visible). Directed by Francis Lawrence; script by Richard LaGravenese, based on Sara Gruen's bestseller novel; cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto; starring Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook, Jim Norton, Paul Schneider, Richard Brake, Mark Povinelli & Tai the Elephant DVD/Blu-ray not yet available full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Water For Elephants: A Novel" [2006 bestseller] by Sara Gruen Algonquin Books movie tie-in mass pb [3/2011] for $5.50 Algonquin Books 8¼x5½ pb [8/00] for $8.22 Algonquin Books 9½x6¼ deckle-edge hardcover [5/2006] for $16.29 book entry at Wikipedia • author's website

"Circus Dreams" [festival circuit 2011, DVD 2015]

"A movie journey from mud to magic" • documents a year in the life of the Vermont-based Circus Smirkus [est. 1987] travelling youth circus • Produced & directed by Signe Taylor indep color DVD [6/2015] for $14.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie website watch 1/2012 official trailer [1:44] online at YouTube

"Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" in 3-D
[DreamWorks June 2012]

On the run from the animal control police once again, the animated animal gang finds the perfect disguise by joining a travelling circus. Directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath & Conrad Vernon; original music by Hans Zimmer; voice actors include Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, Tom McGrath, Frances McDormand, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Martin Short, Chris Miller & Paz Vega Dreamworks Video 3-D Blu-ray/DVD/digital combo [10/2012] 3 disks for $34.99 Dreamworks Video Blu-ray/DVD/digital combo [10/2012] 2 disks for $26.68 Paramount widescreen color DVD [10/2012] for $13.00 full credits at IMDb • official movie series website • movie entry at Wikipedia

"You, Me & The Circus" [indep Sept 2012]

Four people fall in and out of love during an afternoon of intense conversation; modeled on films by Bob Fosse & Federico Fellini: real-world events with a bohemian circus in the background. Exec-produced by Omar Epps; co-produced, co-written & directed by Ty Hodges; co-produced & co-written by Marlon Olivierre; starring Ty Hodges, Anita Briem, Matt Dallas, Melonie Diaz & Ashley Applewhite DVD/Blu-ray not available • Amazon Instant Video [12/2012] rental $3.99, purchase $14.99 full credits at IMDb

"Big Top Scooby-Doo!" animated video release [Warner Bros. Oct 2012]

Scooby-Doo, Shaggy and the gang arrive in Atlantic City for a vacation and land center-stage in a three-ring mystery: a shuttered circus big top is being hounded by werewolves . . . Directed by Ben Jones; written by Douglas Langdale; starring voices of Frank Welker, Mindy Cohn, Grey DeLisle, Matthew Lillard, Greg Ellis, Maurice LaMarche, Peter Stormare, Jeff Dunham, Carlos Ferro, Jess Harnell, Jim Meskimen, Candi Milo, Hynden Walch & Craig Ferguson Warner Home Video color Blu-ray [10/2012] for $19.29 Warner Home Video color DVD [3/2013] for $14.99 Warner Home Video color DVD [10/2012] for $14.49 full credits at IMDb

"GreasePaint" documentary film [indep 2013?]

Joey Thurmond put his life savings and police pension into his ultimate passion, being a clown full time. Joey and his family travel around the country living their dream of performing in their own circus; his wife Jamie manages day-to-day affairs; and son Tyler weighs the choice to stay with the business or to pursue his own dreams. Acrobat Hernan Colonia works on adjusting to his new surroundings and dealing with his unfortunate immigration situation • 120-minute documentary film by Daniel Espeut DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • latest info at IMDb • official movie site watch 11/2012 official trailer [3:21] at YouTube

"Circo Rodas" [indep 2013?]

90-minute Spanish-language multi-camera video of a performance by Circus Rodas [] of Argentina; no credits, just quits after female acrobat watch full video [6/2013 upload; 1:28:31] free online at YouTube

"Bound By Flesh: The Amazing Story of Daisy & Violet Hilton"
[festival circuit 2012, Sundance Selects USA June 2014]

British conjoined twins Violet & Daisy Hilton [1908-69] were a popular sideshow act in America in the 1930s; while most such 'freak' performers just stood there, the Hilton Twins were trained to sing and dance and to play several musical instruments. This 95-minute documentary explores the American sideshow, its origins, and its heyday when crowds streamed into the circus tents and vaudeville music halls where such curiosities were on display. • Co-produced, written & directed by Leslie Zemeckis; featuring sideshow promoter Ward Hall, archive footage of the Hilton Twins, and the voices of Lea Thompson, Nancy Allen, Timothy Stack & Blake Boyd; won Hollywood Film Festival Discovery Award for Best Documentary DVD/Blu-ray not yet available full credits at IMDb • official movie site • watch official trailer [2:19] at YouTube

"Días de Circo" [festival circuit 2015]
Filmmaker Ariel Soto and a small Bolivian crew traveled with Circo Niguita for seven months through the Bolivian rainforest; sought funding
for "My Days In The Traveling Circus" at Kickstarter and was successful in June 2012; release on DVD not certain • credits at IMDb

"The Night Owl Circus" [indep 2015]

videos of the annual 'The Night Owl Circus' showcase performance presented by Johnson City Circus Arts in Johnson City, Tennessee; September video was filmed in February 2015; January video was filmed in December 2015, i.e. with different performers and-or routines Directed by Craig Lewis Johnson City Circus Arts DVD-R [9/2015] for $15.00 Johnson City Circus Arts DVD-R [1/2016] for $15.00

"Animal Crackers" animated feature film  
[Blue Dream Studios Sept 2017]

Owen lives an unexciting life of work, sleep, eat, repeat until one day he inherits the animal circus owned by his Uncle Bob . . . • co-written & co-directed by Scott Christian Sava DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • latest info at IMDb • watch 3/2017 clip [3:11] at YouTube

"The Greatest Showman (On Earth)" [Fox limited Nov, wide Dec 2017]  

Announced 8/2011: 20th Century Fox’s period musical about P.T. Barnum, the legendary showman who created the three-ring circus, and loved to hoax a gullible public, will star Hugh Jackman. Commercials director & visual effects wizard Michael Gracey is set to direct; a focal point of the movie is Barnum’s infatuation with opera singer Jenny Lind, who was called 'The Swedish Nightingale'; added 3/2017: Michelle Williams and Zac Efron are signed • Directed by Michael Gracey; written by Jenny Bicks & Bill Condon; original songs by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul; starring Hugh Jackman {as P.T. Barnum}, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson {as Jenny Lind}, Austyn Johnson, Cameron Seely, Keala Settle, Sam Humphrey {as Tom Thumb}, Yusaku Komori & Danial Son {as Chang & Eng}, Luciano Acuna Jr. {as Dog Boy}, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eric Anderson, Ellis Rubin, Skylar Dunn, Daniel Everidge, Radu Spinghel, Paul Sparks, Will Swenson, Linda Marie Larson, Byron Jennings, Betsy Aidem, Damian Young, Tina Benko, Fredric Lehne, Kathryn Meisle, Timothy Hughes, Gayle Rankin {as Queen Victoria} DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • Atlantic Records original motion picture soundtrack CD [12/2017] 11 tracks for $10.99 Atlantic Records original motion picture MP3 soundtrack album download [12/2017] 11 tracks for $9.49 full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia watch official trailers online at YouTube: 6/2017 trailer #1 [2:23] • 11/2017 trailer #2 [2:28]

here on the Circus Film Festival Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore

back on page 1: top of page • brief history • links • short cartoons
silent films • sound films & TV • films & TV - 1940

here on page 2: top of page • films & TV - 1960 • films & TV - 1980 • films & TV - 2000 • recent/COMING SOON

♦                  ♦                  ♦

Spirit of America Bookstore's 'The American Circus' Pages
top of page • brief history • books • stageplays, other media • toys & games •
legendary circus people • American circuses • circus music • links

Spirit of America Bookstore's Circus Fiction Page

Spirit of America Bookstore's P.T. Barnum [1810-91] Page

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