This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2010) |
Carnival Story is a 1954 drama film directed by Kurt Neumann, produced by Frank King and Maurice King, starring Anne Baxter and Steve Cochran, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It was made as a co-production between West Germany and the United States.
| Carnival Story | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Kurt Neumann |
| Written by | Marcy Klauber Charles Williams Hans Jacoby Kurt Neumann Dalton Trumbo (uncredited) Michael Wilson (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Frank King Maurice King |
| Starring | Anne Baxter Steve Cochran Lyle Bettger |
| Cinematography | Ernest Haller |
| Music by | Willy Schmidt-Gentner |
Production companies | King Brothers Productions Westia Film |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Countries | United States West Germany |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2 million (US)[2] |
Sometimes this film is credited as a 3D feature, although it wasn't filmed or exhibited in a three-dimensional process.[3] This idea in many sources may be based on a wrong note from Variety in 1953.[4] Neumann simultaneously directed a German language version Circus of Love with Bernhard Wicki, Eva Bartok, and Curd Jürgens.[5]
The melodrama set in a circus was filmed at the Bavaria Studios in Munich and on location in the city. The sets were designed by the art directors Hans Kuhnert and Theo Zwierski. The film was shot in Agfacolor with prints by Technicolor.
Plot
editGrayson's Amerikanische Wunderschau ("American Show Of Wonders"), a traveling carnival, comes to Munich with acts that include high-dive artist Frank Collini (Lyle Bettger) and silent strongman Groppo (Ady Berber). A local girl named Willi (Anne Baxter) picks the pocket of Joe (Steve Cochran), who works for the carny, and he ends up offering her a job.
Joe makes romantic advances to Willi, who tries to resist him but can't. Then Collini asks if she would like to become a part of his act, which involves diving into a flaming tank of water from a great height. He also proposes marriage on Willi's first night as part of the show.
Magazine photographer Bill comes to take their picture as the Great Collinis' fame grows. Collini beats Joe up after catching him with Willi, whereupon Collini plunges to his death after a rung on his high-dive ladder breaks.
Willi inherits $5,000. Joe spends the night with her, but the next morning, he is gone as is her money. She eventually gets Joe to confess that he sawed Collini's rung in two, deliberately causing his death. When Willi asserts her independence from Joe, he tries to strangle her. Hearing her cries for help, Groppo comes to Willi's rescue and chases Joe who tries to escape on a Ferris wheel. Groppo climbs to the top of the wheel and throws Joe off, killing Joe; and Groppo is led away by the police.
Cast
edit- Anne Baxter as Willi
- Steve Cochran as Joe Hammond
- Lyle Bettger as Frank Collini
- George Nader as Bill Vines
- Helene Stanley as Peggy
- Jay C. Flippen as Charley Grayson
- Ady Berber as Groppo
Release
editThe King Brothers later sued RKO for mismanaging the distribution and sale of the film, claiming $20,000 in damages.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Carnival Story: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ^ "1954 Box Office Champs". Variety Weekly. January 5, 1955. p. 59. - figures are rentals in the US and Canada
- ^ "3dlist". the3drevolution.com. 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
- ^ "Zum Greifen nah". AllBusiness.com. 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-03-31.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Maltin, Leonard, ed. (2007). Leonard Maltin's 2008 Movie Guide. New York: Signet. p. 214. ISBN 978-0-451-22186-5.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (Nov 5, 1958). "FILM GROUP FILES SUIT OF $6,030,000: King Brothers Alleges Trust Violations in 3 Releases -- Doris Day in Musical". New York Times. p. 43.
External links
edit
- Carnival Story at IMDb
- Carnival Story is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- Rummelplatz der Liebe at IMDb
- Carnival Story at AllMovie
- Carnival Story at the TCM Movie Database