The Greatest Showman is a 2017 American musical film directed by Michael Gracey in his directorial debut, written by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon and starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya. The film is inspired by the story of P. T. Barnum's creation of the Barnum & Bailey Circus and the lives of its star attractions.
The Greatest Showman | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Michael Gracey |
Produced by |
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Screenplay by |
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Story by | Jenny Bicks |
Starring |
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Music by |
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Cinematography | Seamus McGarvey |
Edited by |
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Production company |
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Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $84 million |
Box office | $435 million |
Principal photography began in New York City in November 2016. The film premiered on December 8, 2017, aboard the RMS Queen Mary 2. It was released in the United States on December 20, 2017, by 20th Century Fox and grossed over $434 million worldwide, making it the fifth-highest grossing live-action musical of all time. The film was released seven months after Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus's dissolution.
The Greatest Showman received mixed reviews, with praise for the performances, music, and production values, but criticism for its artistic license, with some reviewers calling it "faux-inspiring and shallow". At the 75th Golden Globe Awards, the film received nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for Jackman. For the song "This Is Me", the film won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for Best Original Song at the 90th Academy Awards.
Screenplay
In the late 19th century, P. T. Barnum and his troupe perform a show at the circus ("The Greatest Show"). In a flashback to Barnum's childhood where he and his father Philo, a tailor, work for the Hallett family, he becomes infatuated with their daughter, Charity. Though Charity is being sent to finishing school, Barnum reassures her they will not be separated. The two keep in touch through letters until they meet again in adulthood ("A Million Dreams"), eventually marrying and raising two daughters, Caroline and Helen, in New York City ("A Million Dreams" reprise). They live a humble life; though Charity is happy, Barnum dreams of more.
Barnum loses his job as a clerk at a shipping company after the company goes bankrupt. Taking a risky bet, he takes out a large loan from a bank, deceiving the bank into accepting his former employer's lost ships as collateral. He uses this loan to buy Barnum's American Museum in downtown Manhattan, an attraction showcasing various wax models. Initially, sales are slow; on the suggestion of his children to showcase something "alive", Barnum searches for "freaks" to serve as performers for his museum ("Come Alive"). This attracts a large audience despite protests and poor reviews, prompting Barnum to rename his venture "Barnum's Circus."
Searching for ways to further his reputation amongst the upper class, Barnum meets playwright Phillip Carlyle and convinces him to join his venture ("The Other Side"). Carlyle is mesmerized by Anne Wheeler, an African-American trapeze artist, but he hides his feelings. During a trip, Carlyle arranges for Barnum and his troupe to meet Queen Victoria. Afterwards, Barnum meets Jenny Lind, a famed Swedish singer, whom he convinces to perform in America, with him serving as her manager. Lind's first American performance is a rousing success ("Never Enough"). While Barnum gains favor with the aristocratic patrons, he begins to distance himself from his original troupe, refusing to socialize with them. Dejected, they decide to stand against their local harassers ("This Is Me").
Carlyle and Wheeler attend the theater together one night, only to run into Carlyle's parents, who are blatantly racist toward Wheeler, causing her to leave, for which Carlyle angrily berates them after. Carlyle chases her and tries to convince her that they can be together, but she rejects him despite her feelings towards him ("Rewrite the Stars"). As Barnum takes Lind on a US tour, Charity feels isolated from her husband as she stays home with their daughters ("Tightrope"). While on tour, Lind begins falling in love with Barnum, but when he refuses her advances, she calls off the tour and kisses him at the end of her last show, which is photographed by the press ("Never Enough" reprise). Barnum returns home to find his circus on fire, caused by a fight between the protesters and the troupe. Carlyle, who had tried to save Wheeler not knowing she had already escaped, is rescued by Barnum amid the chaos but suffers severe burns. Most of the sets and props are destroyed. Word of Lind's cancellation and Barnum's public intimacy also reaches New York, resulting in his mansion being foreclosed upon and Charity taking Caroline and Helen to her parents' home.
Depressed, Barnum retreats to a local bar, where his troupe find him there and explain that despite their disappointments, they still consider themselves a family that needs him. An inspired Barnum resolves to start anew and not let ambition overtake his loved ones anymore. Meanwhile, the injured Carlyle wakes in a hospital with Anne by his side ("From Now On").
Barnum leaves and finds his wife, and they decide to mend their relationship. Faced with the financial difficulty of rebuilding the circus, the recovering Carlyle steps in, offering to use his earnings from his share of the circus's profits to rebuild it under the condition of becoming partners, which Barnum happily accepts. As rebuilding the circus in its original location would be too expensive, Barnum rebuilds it as an open-air tent circus by the docks. The revamped circus is a huge success, and Barnum gives full control of the show to Carlyle so he can focus on his family ("The Greatest Show" reprise).
- Hugh Jackman as P. T. Barnum, an ambitious showman and entrepreneur.
- Ellis Rubin as Young P. T. Barnum
- Ziv Zaifman provides Young P. T. Barnum's singing voice.
- Ellis Rubin as Young P. T. Barnum
- Zac Efron as Phillip Carlyle, a playwright who becomes Barnum's partner. His character is partly based on James Anthony Bailey.
- Michelle Williams as Charity Hallett-Barnum, the wife of P.T. Barnum.
- Skylar Dunn as Young Charity
- Rebecca Ferguson as Jenny Lind, a famous Swedish singer known as the "Swedish Nightingale".
- Loren Allred provides Lind's singing voice.
- Zendaya as Anne Wheeler, an acrobat and trapeze artist. Her character is partly based on Ruth Louisa McCaddon.
- Keala Settle as Lettie Lutz, a bearded lady. She is a composite character partly based on Josephine Clofullia and Annie Jones.
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as W. D. Wheeler, an acrobat and Anne's older brother.
- Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Deng Yan, a Chinese acrobat and blade-specialist.
- Paul Sparks as James Gordon Bennett, the founder, editor and publisher of the New York Herald.
- Sam Humphrey as Charles Stratton, a dwarf performer who is also known by his stage name, General Tom Thumb.
- James Babson provides Stratton's singing voice.
- Austyn Johnson as Caroline Barnum, Barnum's older daughter.
- Cameron Seely as Helen Barnum, Barnum's younger daughter.
- Eric Anderson as Mr. O'Malley, a former thief whom Barnum employs at his circus to handle different tasks like staffing the front of the house, selling tickets, reading the reviews, fending off the protestors, producing the posters and promotional materials, and distributing the circus posters on everything.
- Daniel Everidge as The Lord of Leeds, a heavyweight man who is based on Teodulo Valenzuela.
- Radu Spinghel as O'Clancy, an "Irish Giant."
- Timothy Hughes as the Strongman, a man with enhanced strength who is based on Angus MacAskill.
- Shannon Holtzapffel as Prince Constantine, the Tattooed Man who is based on Captain George Costentenus.
- Luciano Acuna Jr. as Walter, the Dog Boy who is based on Fedor Jeftichew.
- Danial Son and Yusaku Komori as Chang and Eng Bunker, the "Siamese Twins."
- Jonathan Redavid as Frank Lentini, the Three-Legged Man.
- Nick Jantz as Jeff Harris, the Juggler.
- Kenneth Chan as the Human Cannonball
- Martha Nichols as Woman in Gold, a woman in gold clothing with gold spots on her.
- Jeremy Hudson as The Elephant-Skinned Man, a man who is based on Ralph Krooner. He was credited as "Dancer Oddity #3."
- Taylor James as Blockhead, a man with facial piercing that is based on Melvin Burkhart. He is credited as "Dancing Oddity #4."
- Chelsea Caso as Tattoo Lady, a woman covered in tattoos who is based on Nora Hildebrant. She is credited as "Dancing Oddity #5."
- Caoife Coleman and Mishay Petronelli as the Albino Twins, two white-haired pale women in white clothes. They were credited as "Dancer Oddity #6" and "Dancer Oddity #7."
- Khasan Brasilford as Albino Man, a white-haired man in white clothes. He was credited as "Ensemble Dancer #1."
- Alex Wong as Oriental Man, a man dressed in an oriental outfit. He was credited as "Ensemble Dancer #2."
- Julius Rubio as Golden Boy, a man in gold clothing with gold spots on him. He was credited as "Ensemble Dancer #3."
- Vincent-Oliver Noiseux as Devil Boy, a performer with horns. He was credited as "Ensemble Dancer #4."
- DeAnna Walters and Jessica Castro as the Voodoo Twins. They are credited as "Ensemble Dancer #5" and "Ensemble Dancer" #6.
- Najla Gilam as Snake Dancer, a snake charmer who is based on Nala Damajanti. She was credited as "Ensemble Dancer #7."
- Christina Glur as the Egyptian Lady, a woman in a fiery red costume with matching hair and an all-seeing eye tattooed on the palm of her right hand. She was credited as "Ensemble Dancer #8".
- Damian Young as Mr. Winthrop
- Tina Benko as Mrs. Winthrop
- Shuler Hensley as Lead Protestor, the leader of the anti-freak protestors.
- Gayle Rankin as Queen Victoria, the Queen of England.
- Sammy Voit as museum boy.
- Will Swenson as Philo Barnum, a tailor and the father of P. T. Barnum.
- Fredric Lehne as Benjamin Hallett, father of Charity and abusive father-in-law of Barnum.
- Kathryn Meisle as Hannah Hallett, mother of Charity and mother-in-law of Barnum.
The project was first announced in 2009, with Jackman already set for the title role. In August 2011, Michael Gracey was chosen to direct. In 2013, Fox hired lyricists Pasek and Paul to write the songs.
On June 15, 2016, Zac Efron began negotiations to star in the film, and in July 2016, Michelle Williams was cast. The film was choreographed by Ashley Wallen.
Filming
Rehearsals on the film began in October 2016 in New York City, and principal photography began on November 22, 2016.
Post-production
In December 2017, it was reported that James Mangold, who had worked with Jackman on several projects (including 2017's Logan), had been brought in to serve as an executive producer during the film's post-production. In an interview, director Michael Gracey noted, "There were eight producers on this film, and it was amazing having one of them be a filmmaker."
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