- Actors: Doris Day, Dean Jagger, Jimmy Durante, Stephen Boyd, Martha Raye
- Directors: Charles Walters
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Studio: Warner Bros.
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000R9QOTA
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 28,382 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details |
Reviews
Classic movie starring Doris Day, Jimmy Durante & Dean Jagger. Pop and Kitty Wonder are the owners of the Wonder Circus and because of Pop's addiction to gambling they are constantly in debt and the creditors are very close to foreclosing on them. Their main attraction is Jumbo, the elephant and it seems that their competitor, John Noble wants Jumbo and is luring away all of their acts leaving them with virtually nothing. Then all of a sudden a mysterious man named Sam Rawlins joins them as a wire walker and Kitty is taken with him, what they don't know is that he's Noble's son.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Billy Rose's Jumbo is based on a play of the same name produced by Billy Rose. The play was adapted from the book written by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, the screenplay here is written by Sidney Sheldon. Music is scored by George Stoll, with songs written by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart. It's directed by Charles Walters, with Busby Berkeley on second unit duties, and stars Doris Day, Jimmy Durante, Stephen Boyd, Martha Raye and Dean Jagger. William H. Daniels photographs and it's a Panavision/Metrocolor production out of MGM.
The Pop Wonder Circus is suffering desperate financial problems, with rival Noble Circus circling like a vulture ready to strip it of its greatest assets. Then one day a stranger walks in and joins them as a wire walker and things start to pick up. But as romance blossoms and problems begin to ease, shocking news brings great disruption to the equilibrium.
It's the sort of musical production that can be picked apart to reveal many problems. Problems in length, quality of song execution and certain casting issues, they are there and undeniably stop the film being great. However, if one is just after a breezy piece of fluff, in the company of a delightful leading lady, then it's a film that does its job. Structured as a series of songs and circus routines, there is little room for an intelligent plot, it's a basic boy/girl romance played out whilst some bad guy lurks in the background threatening to drive a wedge between the lovers. Still, the foot tappers keep it charming, the production value is top notch and the Metrocolor used is very pleasing. While the actual circus performers are truly great at their art (wire walkers a favourite over here).
So, as shallow as a puddle in terms of story and character depth, but even tho it should have had better care and attention afforded it, it remains above average and of appeal to musical fans. 6.5/10
The Pop Wonder Circus is suffering desperate financial problems, with rival Noble Circus circling like a vulture ready to strip it of its greatest assets. Then one day a stranger walks in and joins them as a wire walker and things start to pick up. But as romance blossoms and problems begin to ease, shocking news brings great disruption to the equilibrium.
It's the sort of musical production that can be picked apart to reveal many problems. Problems in length, quality of song execution and certain casting issues, they are there and undeniably stop the film being great. However, if one is just after a breezy piece of fluff, in the company of a delightful leading lady, then it's a film that does its job. Structured as a series of songs and circus routines, there is little room for an intelligent plot, it's a basic boy/girl romance played out whilst some bad guy lurks in the background threatening to drive a wedge between the lovers. Still, the foot tappers keep it charming, the production value is top notch and the Metrocolor used is very pleasing. While the actual circus performers are truly great at their art (wire walkers a favourite over here).
So, as shallow as a puddle in terms of story and character depth, but even tho it should have had better care and attention afforded it, it remains above average and of appeal to musical fans. 6.5/10
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
BILLY ROSE'S JUMBO,1962,colour,is a fun circus movie,and DORIS DAY just looked as beautiful as always.
The main co-stars are STEPHEN BOYD, JIMMY DURANTE, MARTHA RAYE, DEAN JAGGER,etc.
Some fine songs are sung in this,including,"THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD","LITTLE GIRL BLUE",
"CIRCUS ON PARADE","WHAT IS A CIRCUS",plus five other song and dance numbers.
Doris Day plays Kitty Wonder[and what a WONDER-FUL surname]is co-owner of the wonder circus with her father,Pop[Durante],
but they have trouble with the circus's shaky finances. Along comes a stranger,Sam Rawlins[Boyd],proving himself
useful as an odd-job man and doubling as a high-wire artist but,unknown to Kitty,Sam has been sent by his father,
John Noble[Jagger]to attempt a take-over bid. It had to happen Kitty and Sam fall in love-so Sam tries to get out
of the deal with his father,but it is too late. The Noble Circus steps in absorbing the Wonder troupe,including the
prized Jumbo the performing elephant. Kitty blames Sam for this deception,and together with Pop and Lulu[Raye],she
attempts to start again with one-day stands in small towns . Just as luck would have it[and just in time]Sam,re-appears,
having split from his father,and offers to help them rebuild the circus with the aid of Jumbo. So then the two couples
[Kit & Sam & Pop & Lulu]celebrate their victory by performing with a song and dance number,"SAWDUST,SPANGLES,AND DREAMS".
BILLY ROSE'S JUMBO is a very entertaining circus film in the usual Doris Day way. WONDER-FUL.
Regards,Bill.
The main co-stars are STEPHEN BOYD, JIMMY DURANTE, MARTHA RAYE, DEAN JAGGER,etc.
Some fine songs are sung in this,including,"THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD","LITTLE GIRL BLUE",
"CIRCUS ON PARADE","WHAT IS A CIRCUS",plus five other song and dance numbers.
Doris Day plays Kitty Wonder[and what a WONDER-FUL surname]is co-owner of the wonder circus with her father,Pop[Durante],
but they have trouble with the circus's shaky finances. Along comes a stranger,Sam Rawlins[Boyd],proving himself
useful as an odd-job man and doubling as a high-wire artist but,unknown to Kitty,Sam has been sent by his father,
John Noble[Jagger]to attempt a take-over bid. It had to happen Kitty and Sam fall in love-so Sam tries to get out
of the deal with his father,but it is too late. The Noble Circus steps in absorbing the Wonder troupe,including the
prized Jumbo the performing elephant. Kitty blames Sam for this deception,and together with Pop and Lulu[Raye],she
attempts to start again with one-day stands in small towns . Just as luck would have it[and just in time]Sam,re-appears,
having split from his father,and offers to help them rebuild the circus with the aid of Jumbo. So then the two couples
[Kit & Sam & Pop & Lulu]celebrate their victory by performing with a song and dance number,"SAWDUST,SPANGLES,AND DREAMS".
BILLY ROSE'S JUMBO is a very entertaining circus film in the usual Doris Day way. WONDER-FUL.
Regards,Bill.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
29 reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!I MISS DORIS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!
16 May 2005
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Part one of my review(I looked at the moviesin order of the oldest date on the back).....Looked at Young man with a Horn(B&W)...if for anything get this movie for the spectacular shots of New York City....with the (trains running above ground)...but this was my first time seeing this movie & it's a great script...not a big fan of Douglas but he was great in this part......and Doris can't do no wrong in any part....here she plays a very good friend of Douglas & gets to sing about three songs...great movie & you get Lauren Bacall thrown in as the viper
......then I looked at Lullaby of Broadway.i had seen this before but on my new flat screen TV...it's so amazing.love it
....then i looked at Calamity...I have over the years seen bits & pieces of this movie..I sat & watched it in it's entierty.....Doris is SO amazing in this role
got Love me or leave me in the DVD player now(but have seen this one....it's one of my favorite Doris movies
I lived long enough to see these movies..I guess i was very young to actually see them in the movie(the earlier ones)...but you look at Doris Day & she's utterly amazing in her talent.she dances, she sings,she acts......but she can do just one of those things and she would be a star..but that voice of hers is heavenly!!!!!
......then I looked at Lullaby of Broadway.i had seen this before but on my new flat screen TV...it's so amazing.love it
....then i looked at Calamity...I have over the years seen bits & pieces of this movie..I sat & watched it in it's entierty.....Doris is SO amazing in this role
got Love me or leave me in the DVD player now(but have seen this one....it's one of my favorite Doris movies
I lived long enough to see these movies..I guess i was very young to actually see them in the movie(the earlier ones)...but you look at Doris Day & she's utterly amazing in her talent.she dances, she sings,she acts......but she can do just one of those things and she would be a star..but that voice of hers is heavenly!!!!!
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
HAPPY "DAYS" ARE HERE AGAIN
30 April 2005
Format:DVD
If there is any question in anyone's mind as to why Doris Day is ranked by the distinguished annual Quigley Poll of top ten box-office stars, as the number one female star of all time, it will be put to rest by this great collection.
There is something for everyone contained in this beautiful set, complete with a nice array of extras.
Contained herein are films produced over a 16 year period and clearly showing that Miss Day could do it all - sing, dance, act in dramas or show a comic skill that few if any have come close to rivaling.
"Young Man With a Horn" featuring Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall gives Miss Day a great chance to emote skillfully and to render perfect renditions of several great band tunes. It's a well-made drama and her first film to play New York's famous Radio City Music Hall. In "Lullaby of Broadway" she sings, dances and dazzles as only Doris can with a wonderful cast of great character performers. She also gives the best rendition of the title tune ever recorded.
"Calamity Jane" allows Miss Day to let loose with a brilliantly executed performance as the famed woman of the wild west. She makes it her own, singing the Oscar winning "Secret Love" as well as delivering a powerhouse portrayal in a near perfect film co-starring Howard Keel, on loan from MGM. It's as good as anything Metro put out during their "Golden Age".
"Love Me or Leave Me", opposite James Cagney, is one of the most raw, real and no-holds barred biographical films ever turned out. Miss Day should have not only been nominated for an Oscar for her unforgettable performance as 20's singer Ruth Etting but should have won the prize. Her first film at MGM enabled her to dazzle the critics and the public with a first-rate acting job by any standard as well as rendering more than a dozen songs as only she can.
"The Pajama Game" is a near perfect screen version of a Broadway hit and Miss Day and much of the original Broadway cast perform at a breathless rate, breathing new life into some well-loved tunes. A great couple of hours of sheer entertainment.
Direct from her Oscar-nominated turn in "Pillow Talk", Miss Day played a mother of 4 in the screen version of Jean Kerr's hit, "Please Don't Eat the Daisies". How many other actresses of the time at the peak of their game would have played a mother role times 4? Miss Day and co-star David Niven are completely believable in this delightful, heartwarming and completing winning romp. "Billy Rose's Jumbo" took 27 years to reach the screen but it was worth the wait. The 1962 musical featuring some of Rodgers and Hart's best tunes is given the lavish MGM treatment. Miss Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante and Martha Raye etch memorable performances in one of the last of the great MGM musicals. Finally, Miss Day had one of her biggest hits with the 1966 "Glass Bottom Boat". It's a wonderful slapstick comedy featuring an amazing cast of actors and comics, all set aside the background of California's Catalina Island. There are non-stop laughs and Miss Day secures her place as one of the funniest lady in film history, all the while maintaining her femininity and the endearing qualitiea that have made her an American Icon. "The Doris Day Collection" is a value at any price. It'll make your "Day"!
There is something for everyone contained in this beautiful set, complete with a nice array of extras.
Contained herein are films produced over a 16 year period and clearly showing that Miss Day could do it all - sing, dance, act in dramas or show a comic skill that few if any have come close to rivaling.
"Young Man With a Horn" featuring Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall gives Miss Day a great chance to emote skillfully and to render perfect renditions of several great band tunes. It's a well-made drama and her first film to play New York's famous Radio City Music Hall. In "Lullaby of Broadway" she sings, dances and dazzles as only Doris can with a wonderful cast of great character performers. She also gives the best rendition of the title tune ever recorded.
"Calamity Jane" allows Miss Day to let loose with a brilliantly executed performance as the famed woman of the wild west. She makes it her own, singing the Oscar winning "Secret Love" as well as delivering a powerhouse portrayal in a near perfect film co-starring Howard Keel, on loan from MGM. It's as good as anything Metro put out during their "Golden Age".
"Love Me or Leave Me", opposite James Cagney, is one of the most raw, real and no-holds barred biographical films ever turned out. Miss Day should have not only been nominated for an Oscar for her unforgettable performance as 20's singer Ruth Etting but should have won the prize. Her first film at MGM enabled her to dazzle the critics and the public with a first-rate acting job by any standard as well as rendering more than a dozen songs as only she can.
"The Pajama Game" is a near perfect screen version of a Broadway hit and Miss Day and much of the original Broadway cast perform at a breathless rate, breathing new life into some well-loved tunes. A great couple of hours of sheer entertainment.
Direct from her Oscar-nominated turn in "Pillow Talk", Miss Day played a mother of 4 in the screen version of Jean Kerr's hit, "Please Don't Eat the Daisies". How many other actresses of the time at the peak of their game would have played a mother role times 4? Miss Day and co-star David Niven are completely believable in this delightful, heartwarming and completing winning romp. "Billy Rose's Jumbo" took 27 years to reach the screen but it was worth the wait. The 1962 musical featuring some of Rodgers and Hart's best tunes is given the lavish MGM treatment. Miss Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante and Martha Raye etch memorable performances in one of the last of the great MGM musicals. Finally, Miss Day had one of her biggest hits with the 1966 "Glass Bottom Boat". It's a wonderful slapstick comedy featuring an amazing cast of actors and comics, all set aside the background of California's Catalina Island. There are non-stop laughs and Miss Day secures her place as one of the funniest lady in film history, all the while maintaining her femininity and the endearing qualitiea that have made her an American Icon. "The Doris Day Collection" is a value at any price. It'll make your "Day"!
33 of 38 people found the following review helpful
IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!
20 Feb 2005
Format:DVD
No star was brighter than Doris Day, and it's about time that more of her movies were released on DVD! Every movie on this set is fabulous and you get to see that Doris Day can do anything, and do it better than anyone else. Comedy, drama, musical you name it it's on these movies. I have two wishes, one is that April 26 comes fast, and that more of Doris's gems will be coming out on DVD, soon!
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Search Customer Discussions
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
