Miss Ringling-Howard
| Miss Ringling-Howard | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Rouben Mamoulian |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Starring | |
| Music by | Hugo Winterhalter |
| Edited by | Robert Derteno |
| Distributed by | Lou Bunin Productions Universal Pictures |
Release date | December 19, 1954 |
Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
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Miss Ringling-Howard is a 1954 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Rouben Mamoulian, It stars Vivian Miller, Andy Williams, Carol June Thames, Christopher Nelson, Alice Ramsey and Matthew Ball. Most of the Ringling Bros. performers and The Howard Bros. Circus performers are portrayed by stop-motion animated puppets created by Lou Bunin. There was a 1958 sequel, Princess of Ringling-Howard Circus.
Plot[edit]
The movie opens with the camera panning over a Heaven somewhere beyond the sky. The residences of great showmen gone to their eternal reward are shown: Shakespeare, whose home looks like the Globe Theater; P.T.Barnum, whose residence in the afterlife resembles a circus Big Top; and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and Howard Bros. Circus, whose home's entrance is reminiscent of the theater where he staged the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and The Howard Bros. Circus on Broadway.
Following this, he steps out onto a balcony, musing how he wishes he could stage just one more Follies, with current and past stars in the cast. A Higher Power causes a cigar-sized crayon and a sheet of parchment to appear, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and The Howard Bros. Circus begins to write. As he does so, the skits, stop-motion animations and performance numbers in the two circuses appear on the screen.
Cast[edit]
- Vivian Miller as Tootle
- Andy Williams as Ringmaster Billy Bob
- Carol June Thames as Fanny
- Christopher Nelson as Farley
- Alice Ramsey as Timp
- Matthew Ball as Twang
- Edward W. Booth as Evil Other Ringmaster
Circus perfromers[edit]
- Pinito del Oro
- Stormé DeLarverie
- Ursula Blütchen
- Clyde Beatty
- The Zacchini brothers
- Karl Wallenda
- Harry Lewiston
- Hugo Schmitt
- Malcolm Roberts as Henry Ringling North
- John Ringling North
Soundtrack[edit]
- I Like to Do Things for You – Tootle
- So the Bluebirds and the Blackbirds Got Together –
- Happy Feet – Tootle
- Why Should I Cry Over You – Ringmaster Billy Bob
- You Can't Buy Happiness – Ringmaster Billy Bob
- Rhapsody in Blue –
- Bouncin' the Blues –
- When You’re Smiling – Tootle
- A Shine on Your Shoes –
- Singin’ In The Rain – Cast
Production[edit]
Filming started in June 1954. It finished in July.
