The Smallest Show on Earth (1957)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

William Rose (screenplay)
John Eldridge (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 March 1962 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A young couple inherits a debt-ridden old movie theater, appropriately nicknamed "The Flea Pit," and the three eccentric senior citizens who work there.

Plot Keywords:

Movie Theater | Theater | Seniors | Rival Business | Abandoned Theater

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Virginia McKenna	...	Jean Spenser
Bill Travers	...	Matt Spenser
Margaret Rutherford	...	Mrs. Fazackalee
Peter Sellers	...	Leslie Quill
Bernard Miles	...	Old Tom
Francis De Wolff	...	Albert Hardcastle
Leslie Phillips	...	Robin Carter
June Cunningham	...	Marlene Hogg
Sid James	...	Mr. Hogg (as Sidney James)
George Cross	...	Commissionaire
George Cormack	...	Bell
Stringer Davis	...	Emmett
Michael Corcoran	...	Taxi Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Bush	...	Cast member (uncredited)
Marian Collins	...	Ice-Cream Girl (uncredited)
Liz Fraser	...	Girl in cinema (uncredited)
Frazer Hines	...	Cast member (uncredited)
Billy Lawrence	...	Cast member (uncredited)
John Pike	...	Cast member (uncredited)
Lynne Roberts	...	Cast member (uncredited)
Michael Scoble	...	Cast member (uncredited)
Leslie Slysz	...	Cast member (uncredited)

Directed by
Basil Dearden

Writing credits
William Rose		(screenplay & original story)
John Eldridge		(screenplay)

Produced by
Leslie Gilliat	....	associate producer
Michael Relph	....	producer
Sidney Gilliat	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Frank Launder	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
William Alwyn

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe

Film Editing by
Oswald Hafenrichter

Art Direction by
Allan Harris

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
Hilda Fox	....	hair stylist
Harry Frampton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
John Pellatt	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddie Pike	....	assistant director
John Meadows	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Claude Watson	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
John Earl	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Roy Walker	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Buster Ambler	....	sound recordist
Arthur Cox	....	dubbing editor
John Cox	....	sound supervisor
Bob Jones	....	sound recordist
Ken Ritchie	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
R. Cuff	....	special effects
Wally Veevers	....	special effects
George Samuels	....	special processes (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jeff Seaholme	....	camera operator
Paddy Aherne	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Ron Drinkwater	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Norman Hargood	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Guy Ambler	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)
Alan Corder	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)
Eileen Daines	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)
Alban Streeter	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Jane Buck	....	continuity
Sidney Gilliat	....	presenter
Frank Launder	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Hallmark Productions

Distributors

• British Lion Film Corporation (1957) (UK) (theatrical)
• Times Film Corporation (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Big Time Operators (USA)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Christchurch Avenue, London, England, UK

Company:

Hallmark Productions

Trivia:

The films shown at the Bijou (all fictional and presumably filmed just for this movie) are: - Killer Riders of Wyoming - The Mystery of Hell Valley - Comin' Thro' the Rye (Silent Movie) - Devil Riders of Parched Point

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the young couple arrive in "Sloughborough", in the north of England, they climb out of the taxi in front of Hammersmith underground station in London.

Quotes:

Jean: [Reacting to seeing the inside of the theater and its employees for the first time] Flea pit? More like "The Snake Pit!"

Movie Connections:

References The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

How it used to be in the movie business in the old days

This film is one of my favourites because fifty years ago I was a young projectionists in a small cinema in the East Midlands, England. My future wife, was also a projectionist there (this was just after World War II, and the men were still away in the forces) and was where we met. I later became a movie house manager for several years before leaving the business with the advent of TV. Although it was hilarious the film hit the nail on the head with many home truths. The projectionist and the cashier were always rivals and vied for positions of authority. I knew many projectionists who were fond of the bottle. The way the show was kept running in all adversities was also typical of real life in a small "flea pit". A great film of days that used to be ! Incidentally my wife and I celebrated our golden wedding two years ago, and we did our courting at the movies on our days off.