The Smallest Show on Earth

For the musical based on this film, see Smallest Show on Earth (musical).
The Smallest Show on Earth

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Basil Dearden
Produced by Sidney Gilliat
Frank Launder
Michael Relph
Written by William Rose
John Eldridge
Starring Bill Travers
Virginia McKenna
Peter Sellers
Margaret Rutherford
Bernard Miles
Music by William Alwyn
Cinematography Douglas Slocombe
Edited by Oswald Hafenrichter
Production
company
Hallmark Productions
Distributed by British Lion Films (UK)
Times Film Corporation (USA)
Release dates
 1957
Running time
 80 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

The Smallest Show on Earth (aka USA: Big Time Operators) is a 1957 British comedy film, directed by Basil Dearden, and starring Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna, Peter Sellers and Margaret Rutherford. The supporting cast included Bernard Miles, Leslie Phillips, Francis de Wolff, George Cross, June Cunningham and Sid James. The screenplay was written by William Rose and John Eldridge from an original story by William Rose.

Plot

Travers and McKenna play Matt and Jean, a young couple (they were married in real life) with a longing to visit exotic places, such as Samarkand. One day, Matt inherits a cinema from his great-uncle. When they look over their new property, they first mistake the modern 'Grand' for it. They are soon disillusioned to learn that the movie theatre they actually own is the old decrepit Bijou Kinema (nicknamed the "flea pit"), which is located next to a railway bridge. Along with the theatre, come three long-time employees: Mrs. Fazackalee (Rutherford), the cashier and bookkeeper; Mr. Quill (Sellers), the projectionist; and Old Tom (Miles) the janitor, doorkeeper and usher.

Robin (Phillips), their solicitor, informs them that the Grand's owner, Mr. Hardcastle (De Wolff), had offered to buy the Bijou from Matt's great-uncle for five thousand pounds in order to construct a car park for his nearby cinema. When they see their competitor however, he only offers them five hundred, thinking they have no choice but to accept.

Instead, on Robin's advice, they pretend to want to reopen the Bijou in order to force Hardcastle to raise his offer. At first, they seem to be succeeding, but then Old Tom inadvertently lets slip their overheard plan and Hardcastle refuses to budge. They decide to carry on with their bluff and go through with the opening. After a few mishaps, the business flourishes, especially after Matt hires the curvaceous Marlene Hogg (Cunningham) to sell ice creams and other treats at the interval.

Hardcastle counters by slipping a bottle of whisky into the next shipment of film reels for Quill, who has a drinking problem. He eventually succumbs to the temptation (while parched actors crawl across a desert on the screen), leaving Matt to try unsuccessfully to substitute for him; they are forced to refund the customers' money. Matt and Jean are ready to give up (with Old Tom eavesdropping again) only to wake up the next morning to find that the Grand has burned down. Hardcastle is forced to pay ten thousand pounds for the Bijou in order to stay in business while his theatre is being rebuilt. As an added condition, he has to keep the three staff on as employees.

Just as Matt and Jean are leaving on the train, Old Tom tells Matt that "It were the only way, weren't it?" implying he committed arson. Alarmed, they decide to write him a letter asking him to clarify his remark, but instead send him a postcard... from Samarkand.

Cast

Production

The Bijou Cinema was not a real building; both the exterior and interior were sets. The exterior facade was constructed between two railways bridges in Christchurch Avenue, London NW6, next to Kilburn tube station. A replica at Shepperton Studios was used for close-up shots and interior scenes.

The Gaumont Palace Hammersmith in London (subsequently called the Hammersmith Odeon, and now called the Hammersmith Apollo) was used for the exterior shots of the rival Grand Cinema with interiors at the Odeon in Richmond.

Back projection shots of Longton in Staffordshire were used for the final scenes in the railway carriage.

The silent film shown in the film is Comin' Thro the Rye (1923).

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