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Man on a Tightrope
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Wikipedia article
'Man on a Tightrope' is a 1953 American film noir directed by Elia Kazan, starring Fredric March and Terry Moore and Gloria Grahame. It was entered into the 3rd Berlin International Film Festival. The screenplay by Robert E. Sherwood 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 in 1950. Members of the Circus Brumbach appeared in the film version in both character roles and as extras.
Plot
In 1952 Czechoslovakia, circus man Karel ernk struggles to keep his beloved Cirkus ernk together, which belonged to his family before being nationalized by the Communist government. The government allows ernk to manage the circus, but he grapples with deteriorating conditions in the circus, loss of his workers to the state, and tension with his willful daughter Tereza, and his young second wife Zama, whom everyone suspects of being unfaithful. ernk wants to end a budding romance between Tereza and roustabout Joe Vosdek, who has been with the circus for only a year.
ernk 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. ernk 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 ernk to a spy in his midst. ernk is fined and released, although Fesker believes that he is a threat to the state.
ernk, inspired by a recent spate of escapes from behind the Iron Curtain, has decided to escape over the border to Bavaria. ernk 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. ernk's longtime rival Barovik visits and reveals that he knows of the escape plan. Barovik assures ernk that because they are both circus men, that he will not betray him. ernk agrees to leave behind most of his equipment for Barovik. Realizing that he must act swiftly, ernk discovers that Krofta, who has worked for ernk for twenty years, is actually the spy. ernk ties up Krofta but is confronted by Fesker about a travel permit, which he issues to catch ernk 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 ernk, who incorporates him into the plan. At the border crossing, Krofta escapes, but is stopped by ernk 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 ernk has paid with his life. Obeying his dying wish, Zama orders the troupe to march on to their next performance.
Cast
* Fredric March as Karel ernk
* Terry Moore as Tereza ernk
* Gloria Grahame as Zama ernk
* Cameron Mitchell as Joe Vosdek
* Adolphe Menjou as Fesker
* Robert Beatty as Barovi
* Alexander D'Arcy as Rudolph
* Richard Boone as Krofta
* Pat Henning as Konradin
* Paul Hartman as Jaromr
* John Dehner as the SNB chief
Production
Shot on location in Bavaria, West Germany, 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
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