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Writers: Ben Hecht (book), Charles MacArthur (book)
Cast: Doris Day, Jimmy Durante, Stephen Boyd
Genre: Musical
A small family run circus in the early 1900s called the Wonder Circus, is in deep financial trouble because pops (Jimmy Durante) can't stay away from dice games. His lovely daughter Kitty (Doris Day) does what she can to stave off the creditors. But there's a big powerful circus in town trying to steal all of their talent, the Noble Circus. Enter the new mysterious guy, (Stephen Boyd) who just might be able to help save the Wonder Circus.
Billy Rose's Jumbo marks a lot of last...it was the last time Doris Day starred in a full blown musical. It was the last movie made by a brilliant director, Busby Berkeley, who was the 2nd unit director here. And it was one of the last big musicals made by MGM....and it flopped. It was the start of the 1960s and this type of family musical had lost it's appeal to a new generation of movie goers, and were on the way out.
I wish I could say this movie that marked an end of an era was memorable, but it ain't so! The songs are mostly forgettable and the romance between Dorris Day and Stephen Boyd is something akin to warm flat beer. It's there, but it's none to lively.
Unlike the other well known classic circus movie, The Greatest Show On Earth...Jumbo doesn't have much in the way to offer in spectacular circus feats. Come to think of it, Billy Rose's Jumbo is lack luster all the way around.
Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
Director: Charles WaltersWriters: Ben Hecht (book), Charles MacArthur (book)
Cast: Doris Day, Jimmy Durante, Stephen Boyd
Genre: Musical
A small family run circus in the early 1900s called the Wonder Circus, is in deep financial trouble because pops (Jimmy Durante) can't stay away from dice games. His lovely daughter Kitty (Doris Day) does what she can to stave off the creditors. But there's a big powerful circus in town trying to steal all of their talent, the Noble Circus. Enter the new mysterious guy, (Stephen Boyd) who just might be able to help save the Wonder Circus.
Billy Rose's Jumbo marks a lot of last...it was the last time Doris Day starred in a full blown musical. It was the last movie made by a brilliant director, Busby Berkeley, who was the 2nd unit director here. And it was one of the last big musicals made by MGM....and it flopped. It was the start of the 1960s and this type of family musical had lost it's appeal to a new generation of movie goers, and were on the way out.
I wish I could say this movie that marked an end of an era was memorable, but it ain't so! The songs are mostly forgettable and the romance between Dorris Day and Stephen Boyd is something akin to warm flat beer. It's there, but it's none to lively.
Unlike the other well known classic circus movie, The Greatest Show On Earth...Jumbo doesn't have much in the way to offer in spectacular circus feats. Come to think of it, Billy Rose's Jumbo is lack luster all the way around.