''Man on a Tightrope'' is a 1953 American

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

directed by Elia Kazan, starring

Fredric March Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel; August 31, 1897 – April 14, 1975) was an American actor, regarded as one of Hollywood's most celebrated, versatile stars of the 1930s and 1940s.Obituary '' Variety'', April 16, 1975, ...

and Terry Moore and

Gloria Grahame Gloria Grahame Hallward (November 28, 1923 – October 5, 1981) was an Academy Award-winning American actress and singer. She began her acting career in theatre, and in 1944 made her first film for MGM. Despite a featured role in ''It's a Wond ...

. The screenplay by

Robert E. Sherwood Robert Emmet Sherwood (April 4, 1896 – November 14, 1955) was an American playwright and screenwriter. He is the author of '' Waterloo Bridge, Idiot's Delight, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Rebecca, There Shall Be No Night, The Best Years of Our ...

was based on a 1952 novel of the same title by Neil Paterson. Paterson based his true story, which first appeared as the magazine novelette ''International Incident'', on the escape of the Circus Brumbach from

East Germany East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

in 1950. Members of the Circus Brumbach appeared in the film version in both character roles and as extras. The film has was entered into the

3rd Berlin International Film Festival The 3rd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 18 to 28 June 1953. Description This year's festival did not give any official jury prizes; instead awards were given by audience voting. This continued until the FIAPF granted Be ...

Plot

In 1952

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

circus A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and unicyclis ...

man Karel Černík struggles to keep his beloved Cirkus Černík together, which belonged to his family before being nationalized by the Communist government. The government allows Černík to manage the circus, but he grapples with its deteriorating conditions, loss of his workers to the state, tension with his willful daughter Tereza, and his young second wife Zama, whom everyone suspects of being unfaithful. Černík wants to end a budding romance between Tereza and

roustabout Roustabout (Australia/New Zealand English: rouseabout) is an occupational term. Traditionally, it referred to a worker with broad-based, non-specific skills. In particular, it was used to describe show or circus workers who handled materials ...

Joe Vosdek, who has been with the circus for only a year. Černík is interrogated at the headquarters of the S.N.B. state security in Pilzen on why he is not performing the Marxist propaganda acts dictated by the government. Černík explains that the skits were not funny, and that audiences prefer his usual act. The S.N.B. chief orders him to resume the required act, and to dismiss a longtime trouper who calls herself "The Duchess". Propaganda minister Fesker casually asks him about a radio in his trailer, alerting Černík to a spy in his midst. Černík is fined and released, although Fesker believes that he is a threat to the state. Černík, inspired by a recent spate of escapes from behind the Iron Curtain, has decided to escape over the border to

Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...

. Černík suspects that Joe is the spy, but unknown to him, Tereza has learned that Joe is actually a deserter from the American Army who is planning an escape attempt of his own. Černík's longtime rival Barovik visits and reveals that he knows of the escape plan. Barovik assures Černík that because they are both circus men, that he will not betray him. Černík agrees to leave behind most of his equipment for Barovik. Realizing that he must act swiftly, Černík discovers that Krofta, who has worked for Černík for twenty years, is actually the spy. Černík ties up Krofta but is confronted by Fesker about a travel permit, which he issues to catch Černík in the act of trying to escape. Fesker is about to pursue the circus when he is arrested by a commissar sergeant for issuing the travel permit. Joe reveals himself to Černík, who incorporates him into the plan. At the border crossing, Krofta escapes, but is stopped by Černík from warning the border guards. In the fracas Krofta mortally wounds him. Using an audacious and violent dash across the only bridge, most of the circus safely escape only to be told that Černík has paid with his life. Obeying his dying wish, Zama orders the troupe to march on.

Cast

as Karel Černík * Terry Moore as Tereza Černík *

as Zama Černík * Cameron Mitchell as Joe Vosdek *

Adolphe Menjou Adolphe Jean Menjou (February 18, 1890 – October 29, 1963) was an American actor. His career spanned both silent films and talkies. He appeared in such films as Charlie Chaplin's ''A Woman of Paris'', where he played the lead role; Stanley K ...

as Fesker *

Robert Beatty Robert Rutherford Beatty (19 October 1909 – 3 March 1992) was a Canadian actor who worked in film, television and radio for most of his career and was especially known in the UK. Early years Beatty was born in Hamilton, Ontario, the son of ...

as Barović * Alexander D'Arcy as Rudolph *

Richard Boone Richard Allen Boone (June 18, 1917 – January 10, 1981) was an American actor who starred in over 50 films and was notable for his roles in Westerns, including his starring role in the television series '' Have Gun – Will Travel''. Early li ...

as Krofta * Pat Henning as Konradin * Paul Hartman as Jaromír *

John Dehner John Dehner (DAY-ner) (born John Dehner Forkum, also credited Dehner Forkum; November 23, 1915February 4, 1992) was an American stage, radio, film, and television actor. From the late 1930s to the late 1980s, he amassed a long list of performan ...

as the SNB chief

Production

The film was shot on location in

, then in

West Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...

. Authentic acts were used, and the entire Circus Brumbach was employed for the production.Elia Kazan: A Life – Page 477 The original plot to escape in small increments across the border was the actual means used by the Circus Brumbach in their escape.

References

External links

* * * *
A.W. "Man on a Tightrope (1953)"
''New York Times'' film review, June 5, 1953 {{DEFAULTSORT:Man On A Tightrope 1953 films 20th Century Fox films American drama films American black-and-white films Circus films Cold War films 1950s English-language films Films scored by Franz Waxman Films critical of communism Films based on British novels Films directed by Elia Kazan Films set in East Germany Films set in West Germany Films set in the Czech Republic 1953 drama films 1950s American films