“Trapeze”

Putting the strongly dramatic story of “Trapeze” on the screen turned out to be an international adventure in movie-making. Burt Lancaster, who co-produced the picture with Harold Hecht for United’Artists release, chose fellow New: Yorker Tony Curtis to star with him. As the third member of the high-flying trapeze trio, romantically involved with both her partners, there’s Gina Lollobrigida, one of Italy’s—and the world’s—most beautiful women. For a dash of Mexican charm, there’s voluptuous Katy Jurado. From England came Sir Carol Reed, famous as director of “The Third Man.” And the whole picture was shot in Paris, with French technicians. Thanks to all this happy international teamwork, “Trapeze” can take you right inside the glittering, cosmopolitan world that is the circus.

Relaxed before the camera, the new “flying” act that circus owner Thomas Gomez has hired is really headed for an emotional crisis. Tony Curtis’ mind is on love; Gina Lollobrigida thinks of ambition first

“Trapeze” sets off its explosive personal conflicts against a background of authentic circus life. Many genuine stars of the big top add their own brand of glamour to the spell cast by the movie-makers

To Burt Lancaster goes the powerful role of the once-great trapeze artist. Drawn from bitter retirement, he finds success—and trouble

Inside the Bouglione family’s 104-year-old Cirque d’Hiver in Paris, Tony and his co-stars did many of their own trapeze stunts. Actually a skilled acrobat, Burt dared all but the toughest

 

It is a quote. PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE JUNE 1956