The Clown (1953)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

Frances Marion (story)
Leonard Praskins (adaptation)

Release Date:

16 January 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You'll cry...You'll laugh...You'll love it!

Plot:

Once a famous Ziegfeld star, Dodo Delwyn, is reduced to playing clowns in burlesque and amusement parks as a result of his drinking...

Plot Keywords:

Clown | Remake

Cast

Red Skelton	...	Dodo Delwyn
Jane Greer	...	Paula Henderson
Tim Considine	...	Dink Delwyn
Loring Smith	...	Benjamin Y. 'Goldie' Goldenson
Philip Ober	...	Ralph Z. Henderson
Lou Lubin	...	Little Julie
Fay Roope	...	Doctor Strauss
Walter Reed	...	Joe Hoagley
Eddie Marr	...	Television director
Jonathan Cott	...	Floor director
Don Beddoe	...	Gallagher
Steve Forrest	...	Angry young man at funhouse

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

In part for its obvious publicity value, MGM had interest in casting 'Jackie Cooper''s son John in the role his father had created in The Champ (1931/I) some twenty years before. He was favorably screen-tested and was to be billed as "Jackie Cooper Jr." But his father, well-versed in the pitfalls of child acting, objected to obligating the boy to a contract with the studio. Young Cooper was only six anyway, and his age made the casting a stretch despite the good screen test. Tim Considine, several years older, was selected.

Movie Connections:

Features Bathing Beauty (1944)

Made me cry!

Just a kid when I saw this movie. Red Skelton should have got a good review for his part. To have made me cry, as a kid, not bad for a comic.