The Smallest Show on Earth (1957)
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Classic Film
Maddyclassicfilms — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 02:52 AM)
Caught this little gem for the first time last night. Highly recommended to anyone who loves film.
A young couple (Bill Travers and real life wife Virginia McKenna)inherit a run down cinema. With the help of cinema cashier (Margaret Rutherford), twitchy, alcoholic projectionist (an unrecognisable Peter Sellers)and loyal old doorman (Bernard Miles); they set about restoring the cinema to its former glory.
This is a very funny film, issues with the projection equipment cause untold problems; the noise and vibrations from the close proximity to a railway line, cause the effect of being in the train shown speeding on screen(a precursor to sense surround I'd say) with the cinema shaking as the train passes. They must also deal with a rival local cinema.
The characters are all likeable, and this struck me as having great potential as a TV series.
If anyone else has seen this can you tell me if the films shown at the cinema are real, or fake made for the film? The Silent film looks like it could be genuine, but I've no idea what it is.
Anyone else seen this?
Go to bed Frank or this is going to get ugly
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CanterburyTale — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 04:57 AM)
Hi Maddy, I'm glad that you enjoyed this gem of a film. it has been one of my favourites for many years.Wonderfully directed by Baasil Dearden, featuring the incomparable Peter Sellers, and a subject close to the heart of any classic film fan, what's not to love..? There are so many great moments in it: The hilarious,sudden change of reaction when Margaret Rutherford replaces the glamorous ice cream salesgirl: Bill Travers ineffectually threatening "I shall come amongst you!" to the unruly audience, etc, but my favourite scene is the one where the elderly staff members (Rutherford, Sellers and Bernard Miles) are watching the Silent film. It is such a poignant scene, genuinely touching. It has been some while since I last saw it, but I think the 'Silent' film used was created especially for this production.However, you have given me the perfect excuse to watch it again,just to make sure.
"Barney SloaneThat's my new nameMy old one's a little more Italian." -
Maddyclassicfilms — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 05:05 AM)
Hi Canterbury,
The ice cream scene is hysterical, love when Virginia's character also gives it a go, and ends up running out.
The Silent film scene certainly is poignant, and it really got me. I think part of it was them reliving their youth, the Silent films were their films growing up, so they are remembering earlier times.
The Silent film looked like it could have been real, the Western and other film shown seem to me like they were most likely made for the film.
I cracked up at the scene that's similar to
Singin in the Rain
, where the woman on screen ends up speaking with the actors voice, and the man sounds like her.
This is another reason I will miss these boards; I ask is the film featured in this real (or have some other query)and 9 times out of 10 I actually get an answer from someone that ends my curiosity.
Go to bed Frank or this is going to get ugly
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rudeboy_murray — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 05:16 AM)
I saw this on TV a couple of times when I was younger and always enjoyed it a great deal. You've made me want to watch it again, actually - it's just the kind of cheerful gem that could brighten one's mood, for a while, while getting to grips with the impending doom of the boards.