Lively, entertaining reviews of, and essays on, old and newer films and everything relating to them, written by professional author William Schoell.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

JUMBO

JUMBO (aka Billy Roses' Jumbo/1962). Director: Charles Walters.

"Pop" Wonder (Jimmy Durante) is the owner of a circus that is in real financial trouble -- the only real asset is an elephant named Jumbo --  none of which is helped by Pop's gambling. Against her better wishes, his daughter, Kitty (Doris Day), hires a stranger, Sam (Stephen Boyd), who claims to have experience as a trapeze artist. But Sam may have a connection to a man who is trying to take over Pop's circus against his wishes. A developing romance between Kitty and Sam is threatened by these revelations. This circus-themed musical is based on a Rodgers and Hart stage play, and their songs are the highlights of the movie: 'This Can't Be Love;" "My Romance;" "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World;" etc. The elephant Jumbo's act is also quite amazing. Day [Pillow Talk] is perky and efficient if sexless, Boyd [Ben-Hur] is better than you'd expect in this kind of material, Durante [The Great Rupert] as lovable as ever, and Martha Raye as his love interest is ... cute. Her bit pretending to be a lioness is devoid of mirth, but her stint as a human cannonball is a bit funnier. The screenplay was by Sidney Sheldon, and Busby Berkeley was second unit director.

Verdict: Just when you think it's over, it goes on and on and on. **1/2.

2 comments:

angelman66 said...

Wow, I have never gotten past the first ten minutes of this dull film, though I have tried several times over the decades. Had no idea it was based on a Rodgers and Hart musical...I did know it was a Billy Rose production (I always picture James Caan as Billy Rose, opposite Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice...)
Now I know it is not just me--this is NOT a good movie. Too bad, I like Doris and Stephen Boyd...
-Chris

William said...

I admit that this gets a little tedious towards the end but I think it's hilarious that you couldn't even stand the first ten minutes, LOL!

Yes, I kept expecting James Caan to show up any minute and for Doris to have a cat fight with Barbra -- might have been more entertaining!