Original Paramount Pictures One Sheet Poster (27×41) for the Cecil B. DeMille circus epic, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952) starring Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, and Dorothy Lamour. This film tells the dramatic stories of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer against a background of circus spectacle. DeMille toured the Midwest for two months with the Ringling Bros. circus—collecting anecdotes, slang, and behind-the-scenes ideas. Furthermore, the director, always demanding of his performers, insisted that everyone truly learn to perform the circus stunts they were supposed to be performing in the film. The popular movie was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two, including Best Picture. This original one sheet poster is folded and in very good plus condition. Some tape residue on the front and a chip is missing from the border area. Would linen back very successfully. Ask us about poster restoration.

Original Set of 8 British Front of House Cards (8×10) for the Carol Reed circus drama, TRAPEZE (1956) starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, and Gina Lollobrigida. One of the best circus films ever made, the story revolves around three trapeze performers. Mike (Lancaster) was a great trapeze artist before his accident. Tino (Curtis) joins the circus and convinces Mike to teach him the triple somersault. Lollobrigida adds sex appeal to the trapeze act and is also emotionally involved with both artists. Lancaster performed all of his trapeze stunts himself, as he had been a circus performer before he entered pictures. He even convinced Carol Reed to let him do the climatic triple flip. These original British front of house cards are slightly worn but overall in fine condition. One card has some paper loss at the bottom edge.

Original one sheet poster for the Cecil B. DeMille epic of Circus Life, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952) starring Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Dorothy Lamour and Henry Wilcoxon. One of DeMille’s most popular films, the movie was honored with the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1953. Colorful and lively, with great heaping dollops of melodrama and in-the-arena excitement, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH was filmed up close and personal at Ringling Brothers summer headquaters in Florida. Other pictures have tried to capture the glamor of the circus, but somehow are not remembered with the affection that this magnificent, rowdy and sentimental movie inspires. DeMille was nominated by the Academy of Motion PIcture Arts and Sciences for Best Director, and was awarded the Golden Globe. For a wonderful read about the production of this movie and the many other films which defined DeMille as a great showman, read the wonderful DeMille biography by Scott Eyman, “Empire of Dreams.” The one sheet is in very fine condition.

Original Warner Bros. Three Sheet Poster (41×81) for the German film RIVALEN DER MENEGE (1958), which was distributed in the U.S. as BIMBO THE GREAT (1958) starring Claus Holm, Germaine Damar, Elma Karlowa, and Helmut Schmid. This is the story of trapeze artist Bimbo Tagore (Holm) who along with his wife are stars in a European traveling circus. Bimbo’s jealous brother Kovacs (Schmid) tampers with the trapeze equipment in the hope that Bimbo will fall to his death. Instead his wife is killed, and the tragedy leaves Bimbo a shattered man. But Bimbo recovers and returns to rehearse his part with a new partner. This original three sheet is in very fine condition, and is unassembled. The poster comes as two panels.