The Smallest Show On Earth cover art

The Smallest Show On Earth Details

1957 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 633 members

In THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH, a young British couple inherits a rundown theatre and tries to compete with the glorious movie palace next door. This comedy, starring Peter Sellers, features plenty of quirky characters. Read more

Starring Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna, Leslie Phillips, Peter Sellers
Director Basil Dearden
Genres Comedy

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The Smallest Show On Earth

In THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH, a young British couple inherits a rundown theatre and tries to compete with the glorious movie palace next door. This comedy, starring Peter Sellers, features plenty of quirky characters.

Starring Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna, Leslie Phillips, Peter Sellers, Margaret Rutherford, Bernard Miles
Director Basil Dearden
Studio MOMENTUM PICTURES
Run time DVD: 1 hr 17 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Comedy
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: not available
Production year: 1957
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Smallest Show On Earth

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    In praise of fleapits everywhere, this charming comedy will bring back happy memories for anyone who pines for the days when going to the pictures meant something more than being conveyor-belted in and out of a soulless multiplex. Fondly scripted by John Eldridge and William Rose — the latter penned Genevieve and The Ladykillers — and deftly directed by Basil Dearden, it stars Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna as a couple who inherit a crumbling cinema. The cast alone makes the movie a must-see, and the sequence in which projectionist Peter Sellers, pianist Margaret Rutherford and doorman Bernard Miles relive the glories of the silent era is adorable.

    • Radio Times
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Amiable caricature comedy with plenty of obvious jokes and a sentimental attachment to old cinemas but absolutely no conviction, little plot, and a very muddled sense of the line between farce and reality.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of The Smallest Show On Earth

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  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Lovely film ...lovely subject

    This reminds me of Saturday afternoons when i was a kid,watching matinees

    at my local cinema in Buxton.

    This is only 90 minutes long but is well worth the watch and is about a run down cinema which on the death of the old owner is 'inherited'and tries to compete with a brand new complex down the road.

    Fantastic cast...You will enjoy this!

      • A customer from Rowlands gill
  • Most recent members' review of The Smallest Show On Earth

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    A forgotten Sellars classic.

    This Peter Sellars movie is often overlooked by fans. Made in the days when sellars had not yet achieved top billing. He nevertheless steals the show as the projectionist of the flea pit cinema dubbed the smallest show on Earth.

    Having been a projectionist myself for many years, I found much truth in the humour regarding rivalry amongst cinema operators. Check this one out.

    You won't be disappointed.

      • zack33uk from MID GLAMORGAN
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Rating breakdown

633 Member ratings
  • 100
90
  • 90
60
  • 80
132
  • 70
115
  • 60
104
  • 50
56
  • 40
32
  • 30
20
  • 20
14
  • 10
10

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    • The Smallest Show On Earth
      In THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH, a young British couple inherits a rundown theatre and tries to compete with the glorious movie palace next door. This comedy, starring Peter Sellers, features plenty of quirky characters....