At the turn of the 20th century, Anthony ‘Pop’ Wonder (Jimmy Durante) and his travelling circus often face financial difficulties due to his gambling addiction and his bad luck at cards. His daughter, Kitty (Doris Day), is forced to placate the unpaid performers and feed suppliers.
When Sam Rawlins (Stephen Boyd) asks for a job, Kitty hires him, and he soon becomes a fine highwire-walker as Kitty finds herself falling in love with him.
But Sam is actually the son of unscrupulous rival circus owner John Noble (Dean Jagger), who has been turned down on his offer to buy Pop’s big attraction – a talented elephant named Jumbo.
Sam has been secretly paying Pop’s bills, and Noble eventually arrives to take over Jumbo and the circus. Pop, Kitty and Pop’s long-time fiancee, Lulu (Martha Raye), take to the road as a small-time carnival.
Although heartbroken about Sam’s apparent duplicity, Kitty forgives him when he returns and brings with him the beloved Jumbo. With their big attraction intact, Pop and Sam can now rebuild a major travelling circus and marry Lulu and Kitty.
Based on the 1935 Broadway musical produced by legendary showman Billy Rose – One of Rose’s stipulations in negotiating the screen rights was that his name be featured in the title – the movie has a fine Rodgers and Hart score featuring outstanding songs like The Most Beautiful Girl in the World and My Romance.
Boyd is ruggedly handsome and Day is at her wholesome best, and this romantic pair is supported splendidly by veteran comics Durante (recreating his stage role as the loveable circus owner) and Raye.
Kitty Wonder
Doris Day Sam Rawlins
Stephen Boyd Anthony ‘Pop’ Wonder
Jimmy Durante Lulu
Martha Raye John Noble
Dean Jagger Harry
Joseph Waring Tina
Lynn Wood Ellis
Charles Watts Parsons
James Chandler Madison
Robert Burton Hank
Wilson Wood Eddie
Norman Leavitt Joey the Clown
Billy Barty
Director
Charles Walters
Video
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Boyd is ruggedly handsome and Day is at her wholesome best, and this romantic pair is supported splendidly by veteran comics Durante (recreating his stage role as the loveable circus owner) and Raye.
Harry
