The Smallest Show on Earth

"Enchanting" is the apt word to describe this film and "they don't make them like this anymore!" is the perfect phrase. Matt and Jean (Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna) inherit a small town, run down cinema. Spurred on by a rival cinema owners attempts to buy it off them, they do it up so they can eventually get a bigger sale price. However, they soon find themselves more and more attracted to the fleapit and the three old staff members that go with it.

A real treat from begining to end, The Smallest Show On Earth is perfectly played by a brilliant cast. The characters of the three staff members are at the heart of the film - it's with them that our feelings lie - and these performances are as first rate as you would expect from acting greats Peter Sellers, Margaret Rutherford and Bernard Miles. Their idiosyncracies and personal rivalries allow for many precious comic moments. On top of everything else, this gem of a film happens top be our projectionist Kenny's favourite film. Come along and enjoy with him.

Review by Stephen Townsend
Taken from EUFS Programme 1995-96