Trapeze (film)

Trapeze is a 1956 American drama film directed by Carol Reed and starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina Lollobrigida.

The film is based on the novel The Killing Frost by Max Catto and tells the story of a former and crippled trapeze-artist who trains a young colleague to be able to execute the triple somersault . It was the first American film of Gina Lollobrigida, when one of the greatest movie stars of Italy. The film was produced by Burt Lancasters production company Hecht-Hill-Lancaster and Lancaster was the great dream of his own stunts, which former trapeze worker did.

The film was a success in cinemas and would yield nearly $ 12 million worldwide, of which more than half in the us. At the Berlin film festival silver bear a Burt Lancaster won in the category best actor and Carol drove a Bronze bear in the best Director category. ==Story[ Edit] == The former trapeze artist Mike Ribble lives in Paris. He works there as take l circus tent of Circus Bouglione. He used to be a circus star, the sixth man in the history of the circus who was able to execute the triple somersault. After a fateful fall in which he shattered his leg, he still limps. In doing so, he's going to drink and it seems that he resigned to his fate.

However, he is approached by the young American Tino Orsini. Orsini is also son of a famous trapeze artist, Acrobat, and are looking for a trainer. He wants to run the triple somersault. Ribble, however, is not impressed and keep the boy off. But Orsini maintains and finally decision Ribble to train him and act as the catcher of the new Trapeze Act. There follows a ruthless training, with Ribble Orsini warns that the act can only be successful if their movements perfectly in sync. Meanwhile, the Italian Director Bouglione circus points just Acrobat Lola and her group the door. However, Orsini and Ribble see Lola has exercise and will ask the Director to one more chance. Bouglione says that if it can be accepted by the new duo, he will give her a contract.

Lola tries to seduce Mike, but who loves successful the boat off. Tony Orsini is an easier prey and Bouglione says Mike that Lola will be a good addition for the act. Ribble remains stubborn Lola hold off. Circus magnate John Ringling's they get interest North and Mike and Tony promise within three weeks to perform the triple somersault.Meanwhile, Orsini increasingly under the influence of Lola that furious is on Mike. They get the two acrobats and Tony Stokes on friction. Then Mike hears of an old circus girlfriend that Lola is in love with him and therefore behave. Mike now desperately trying to Lola away from Tony and that works.

Gradually improves Orsini his act. But fate strikes as Mike also falls in love with Lola. Bouglione, who is afraid that his new duo the salto not for Tony Orsini gets together, attach to a new catcher, Otto. He also makes that Tony behind is that Lola and Mike have a room rented in a post hotel. There will be a confrontation and Tony lashes out at Mike. The duo is disintegrated. Ribble is dismissed by Bouglione and Otto takes his place. An angry Mike wants to talk with Tony, but that failed. Desperately he sneaks the circus inside and takes Otto's place. Although Tony very angry about the Exchange, he successfully carries out the triple somersault. The audience applauds and John Ringling North comes with a contract. Tony wants to continue, but now with Mike who refuses. He asks Otto to take his place and leaves together with Lola the circus. ==Division Of Roles[ Edit] == Tony Curtis, Gina Lollobrigida and Burt Lancaster ==Background[ Edit] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The film was on location in Paris included in the Cirque d'Hiver (winter circus) on the Rue Amelot 110 in Paris and in Paris itself. There was also worked in the nearby Billancourt studios in Paris. Burt Lancaster, a former trapeze Assistant, did all his stunts himself. At first Eddie Ward trapeze work, because the studio found it too dangerous for Lancaster. But Lancaster to convince Reed and took the Director stunts knew about it. Eddie Ward, an Acrobat and trapeze employee of Ringling Brothers Circus, was also hired as technical consultant. Ward pulled stunt wife Sally Marlowe to do the stunts for Lollobrigida. Marlowe, however, broke her nose during the shooting and was replaced by stuntman Willy Krause.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The stuntman who performed stunts for Tony Curtis was Alessandro Nava, an Italian circus artist and Acrobat. Incidentally did Curtis also to the stunts. In his autobiography ' Tony Curtis: The Autobiography ' reminds some stunts so dangerous that Curtis ' were that even the stunt people back stunt people needed '. He also knows that he flew through the air a number of times really ' ' as an Acrobat to the trapeze. To avoid that there are too few close-ups were possible, he tried to come anyway on the trapeze itself. It was worked hard by the actors and technicians. Usually started the shots at eight in the morning and went without lunch until late in the afternoon. Other days works worked from 17: 00 until late at night.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Gina Lollobrigida turned out to behave as an exemplary actress, she was always on time and worked hard. According to Curtis, she could not let it alone with everyone to flirt. Director Carol Reed was deeply impressed by the Italian and Curtis suspects that Lollobrigida this her image in the film director put it, a safe will be actress in love always perfect image. Moreover, it was for the actress all game. After the shooting she left, including family, back to Rome.