Trapeze

1956

Action / Drama / Romance

11
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 62% · 8 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 62% · 500 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.8/10 10 5714 5.7K

circus trapeze artist

Plot summary

A pair of men try to perform the dangerous "triple" in their trapeze act. Problems arise when the duo is made into a trio following the addition of a sexy female performer.

Director

Carol Reed Photo
Carol Reed

Top cast

Gina Lollobrigida Photo
Gina Lollobrigida as Lola
Katy Jurado Photo
Katy Jurado as Rosa O'Flynn
Thomas Gomez Photo
Thomas Gomez as Bouglione
Burt Lancaster Photo
Burt Lancaster as Mike Ribble
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
916.56 MB
1280*544
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 45 min
Seeds 1
1.64 GB
1920*816
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 45 min
Seeds 5

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by tomsview 7 / 10

Swinging threesome

I remember seeing "Trapeze" as a youngster in the mid-1950's. But watching it recently, many decades later, I was surprised at how well it has held up.Set in a circus in Paris, Mike Ribble (Burt Lancaster), a famous trapeze artist crippled in a fall, trains a promising young aerialist, Tino Orsini (Tony Curtis).They form a strong bond and aim for Tino to complete a dangerous triple somersault. However, beautiful, ambitious Lola (Gina Lollobrigida) manipulates her way into the act, and the ensuing love triangle proves more dangerous than any somersault.In the novel that the film was based on, "The Killing Frost" by Max Catto, Mike Ripple's feelings towards Tino Orsini are beyond mere friendship, and he resents the arrival of the woman not just because she is interrupting their training schedule. His jealously leads to murder at the end of the book. Now a gay theme was never going to get past the censor in a 1956 movie so the ending plays out differently, but there is an undercurrent.It was shot for the most part in the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris. The director Carol Reed and Photographer Robert Krasner, who worked together on "The Third Man", caught the high-flying trapeze work just as brilliantly as they had captured Harry Lime scurrying down those Viennese sewers.Burt Lancaster with his circus background did many of his own stunts, but Tony Curtis and Gina Lollobrigida also did some: climbing tricky rope ladders and swinging from the platform - enough for you to believe they are really up there.Kate Buford in her book "Burt Lancaster: An American Life" relates how Burt Lancaster and Gina Lollobrigida did not get on, however it gave their performances bite. Lancaster looks amazing in this film; muscles, teeth and intensity. Curtis really was a star on the rise; he and Lancaster hit it off and starred together again in the brilliant "Sweet Smell of Success". But 'La Lollo' more than holds her own. She looks sensational with a full figure and a waist you could close your hands around.If I have a criticism, it is with the Malcolm Arnold's score. Arnold scored many British films in the 50's and 60's, and most of them sounded the same - he didn't change gears much for this one.Uninspired score aside, "Trapeze", with its powerhouse trio of stars and its authentic look, is a film I can happily revisit.
Reviewed by JLRMovieReviews 8 / 10

Burt & Co. Shine on the Flying Trapeze

Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, and Gina Lollbrigida star in "Trapeze," which depicts the life of trapeze artists in a circus. Tony Curtis wants to be a great trapeze artist and thinks he's ready for it, except for one thing, the triple somersault. And, he needs Burt Lancaster to teach him. But, Burt has quit the spotlight since he tried the triple and fell. But, when he sees Tony and what he can do, he thinks Tony can do a triple. But, he won't tell him so, at first. Enter Gina. She has a wire act of her own, and she want to get in on the main attraction. And, of course, love enters the picture.This may have a why should I care? feel to it, as it may not interest some people at all. But for those who will be watching for the stars, the rewards are many. This is a more personal and realistic (of course how should I know) story and treatment of what goes on beyond the high wire act than Cecil B. DeMille's "The Greatest Show on Earth." We are allowed to see beyond the glamorous lifestyle and see them as people who are trying to express themselves while existing here on this earth. This has a deep respect for its subject matter and its characters and shows how they have to work together in order for the act to work, and not just because of the obvious physical risks involved but because they are supposed to be a team and not looking out only for themselves.Plus, Lancaster apparently had some experience in this and performed most of his stunts, and, after Tony and Gina practiced a lot, they did as much as they could. So you do get the real thing and some really good and sincere performances.If you want less DeMille-like glitz and more substance, then this is the circus for you.
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