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Billy Rose's Jumbo

  • 19621962
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, and Martha Raye in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
A debt-ridden circus is saved by a well-meaning but inept publicity man.
Play trailer3:20
1 Video
34 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Musical
  • Romance

A debt-ridden circus is saved by a well-meaning but inept publicity man.A debt-ridden circus is saved by a well-meaning but inept publicity man.A debt-ridden circus is saved by a well-meaning but inept publicity man.

IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Charles Walters
  • Writers
    • Ben Hecht(book)
    • Charles MacArthur(book)
    • Sidney Sheldon(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Doris Day
    • Jimmy Durante
    • Stephen Boyd
Top credits
  • Director
    • Charles Walters
  • Writers
    • Ben Hecht(book)
    • Charles MacArthur(book)
    • Sidney Sheldon(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Doris Day
    • Jimmy Durante
    • Stephen Boyd
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 54User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:20
    Trailer

    Photos34

    Jimmy Durante in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
    Doris Day, Jimmy Durante, Dean Jagger, and Martha Raye in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
    Doris Day in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
    Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, and Martha Raye in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
    "Billy Rose's Jumbo" Doris Day 1962 MGM
    "Billy Rose's Jumbo" Doris Day 1962 MGM
    Doris Day In character for "Billy Rose's Jumbo" 1962 MGM
    Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, and Martha Raye in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
    Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, and Martha Raye in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
    Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
    Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, and Jimmy Durante in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
    Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, and Martha Raye in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Doris Day
    Doris Day
    • Kitty Wonderas Kitty Wonder
    Jimmy Durante
    Jimmy Durante
    • Anthony 'Pop' Wonderas Anthony 'Pop' Wonder
    Stephen Boyd
    Stephen Boyd
    • Sam Rawlinsas Sam Rawlins
    Martha Raye
    Martha Raye
    • Luluas Lulu
    Dean Jagger
    Dean Jagger
    • John Nobleas John Noble
    Joseph Waring
    • Harryas Harry
    Lynn Wood
    • Tinaas Tina
    Charles Watts
    • Ellisas Ellis
    James Chandler
    James Chandler
    • Parsonsas Parsons
    Robert Burton
    Robert Burton
    • Madisonas Madison
    Wilson Wood
    • Hankas Hank
    Norman Leavitt
    Norman Leavitt
    • Eddieas Eddie
    Grady Sutton
    Grady Sutton
    • Driveras Driver
    Ron Henon
    • Circus Performeras Circus Performer
    The Carlisles
    • Circus Performersas Circus Performers
    The Pedrolas
    • Circus Performersas Circus Performers
    Wazzan Troupe
    • Circus Performersas Circus Performers
    • (as The Wazzans)
    Poodles Hanneford
    Poodles Hanneford
    • Circus Performersas Circus Performers
    • (as The Hannefords)
    • Director
      • Charles Walters
    • Writers
      • Ben Hecht(book)
      • Charles MacArthur(book)
      • Sidney Sheldon(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    It's the early 1900's. The Wonder Circus is a traveling circus owned and operated by Anthony Wonder - who performs as a clown - and his daughter Kitty Wonder - who performs as an aerialist and trick rider. Although Kitty loves her Pop as she and all the other circus performers call her father, she hates his gambling addiction which is placing the circus deep in debt. They and their employees treat the circus like one big family, especially Lulu the fortune teller who wants to be Mrs. Wonder, but the employees may only be so loyal if they aren't getting paid. As such, many of the performers leave or threaten to leave to join the Wonder Circus' main competitor, the Noble Circus owned by the power and money hungry John Noble. Although Pop and Kitty don't want anyone to leave their employ, the only act that they will never let go is Jumbo, their trained elephant, who Noble had tried to buy in the past. As many performers leave, into their midst comes circus Jack-of-all-trades Sam Rawlins. Kitty is reluctant to hire Sam because she wants loyal people working for them instead of someone like Sam who she sees as a "sunshiner", a career circus employee who moves from gig to gig. Pop has no such reservation and hires him. Despite still being somewhat suspicious of Sam's motivations since she figures he could get more money working for Noble with his vast array of circus skills, Kitty starts to fall in love with Sam, and he with her, despite his attempts to feign disinterest. Indeed, Sam is hiding a secret about himself and his reason for being with the show. That secret may jeopardize his standing with the Wonders if they ever found out - even if Sam begins to have second thoughts about his reasons for joining them - and jeopardize the entire Wonder Circus itself which includes Jumbo's life. —Huggo
    • deception
    • circus animal
    • dice game
    • fortuneteller
    • master of ceremonies
    • 83 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The Wonderful Songs of Rodgers and Hart
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Musical
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was based on Billy Rose's 1935 Hippodrome extravaganza and one of Rose's stipulations in negotiating the screen rights was that his name be featured in the title.
    • Goofs
      Lulu somehow manages to come out of the cannon backwards - the opposite way to how she entered.
    • Quotes

      Kitty Wonder: [When fortune teller Lulu is reading her palm] Do you really see somebody?

      Lulu: Yes! He's tall, dark...

      Kitty Wonder: ...and handsome? You are such a faker! Do you ever see someone short, fat and ugly?

      Lulu: Yep... in the mirror!

    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      Why Can't I?
      Music by Richard Rodgers

      Lyrics by Lorenz Hart

    User reviews54

    Review
    Top review
    MGM's Last Big Musical
    In 1962, Doris Day was the top box office star (male or female) in the world. "Billy Rose's Jumbo" opened in New York at Radio City Music Hall during a newspaper strike and a snow storm which made the film suffer at the box office.

    It is a wonderful film with great music, good acting and some exciting circus acts. Steven Boyd was the latest actor/wanna-be star to utilize Miss Day as a stepping stone to fame. He was handsome and a good choice to play opposite Doris Day.

    The story is secondary to the rest of the film. Simply, Doris' father, Jimmy Durante, owner of the Wonder Circus, was in deep financial trouble and about to lose his business. Boyd played the son of the owner of a rival circus who wants to take over the Durante organization including the main attraction, Jumbo, the wonder elephant.

    Day, of course, falls in love with Boyd and the rest is music. Doris Day had some wonderful moments. She showed her mettle as a comedienne in a scene where she takes over a crap game from her father to win back the money he has lost.

    Her singing of "My Romance" was very beautiful and I loved the part when she turns, with Boyd, and starts to walk as she sings. Her rendition of "Little Girl Blue" was dramatic and poinant.

    Martha Raye, was, well, Martha Raye and Jimmy Durante was, err, Jimmy Durante!

    The picture looks like they spent a lot of money on it, the color was sharp and the camera work superb. I also enjoyed the final, "Sawdust, Spangles and Dreams". Day and Raye were very funny as clowns.

    This picture is often dismissed as being a flop, the only film which failed during Miss Day's run of box office bonanza. That's unfair because the New York Critics' reviews were not available to inform the public. Their words set the tone for the success or failure of a film. That was especially true in 1962.
    helpful•27
    2
    • Ralph McKnight
    • Nov 30, 1998

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 19, 1962 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Jumbo
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Euterpe
      • Arwin Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,256,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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