Under the Big Top (1938)

★★★ · Interesting · harryharry · 2005-05-27

Nerve-racking drama on the trapeze 100 ft. above the sawdust... and only a split second to make a certitude that meant fatality! Packed with great performances by Marjorie Main and George Cleveland, this film is very plain and simple but makes 60 minutes of viewing worthwhile. Charlene Wyatt, as a child artist does simply great. And the storyline in short: The stringent proprietor of a local circus, brings up her small orphan niece who turns out to be a gorgeous trapeze young performer as the time passes. She has been skilled by two brothers who are also her trapeze buddies and she is in love…

★★ · Gives trapeze artists a bad name! · Spuzz · 2006-01-08

Under The Big Top falls under the very, very small subgenre of movies that are not only about circuses, but about acrobats! Lets see, theres Trapeze, The Greatest Show On Earth, and now this movie! This is all about a girl named Penny, who literally grows up in the circus and becomes the BEST Trapeze artist in the WORLD! Actually, when we see the act, its nothing special, but if the movie says they are, then they must be! Anyways, she is brought up by her aunt, a stage mother if there ever was one, who dictates everything about Pennys life. When she finds out Pennys fooling around with one of…