The Greatest Show on Earth feels like four circuses piled up on each other, back to back performance of the most random acts (but not most interesting) ever. The film could have easily been about an hour long had they cut out the three times they show and tell us about how the actual physical components (tent, etc) are assembled and disassembled and transported, had they cut out the loooooooooooooong "parade" sequences (each of which contained at least one full song but normally more) in which all of the circus performers dress up in themed costumes as circle the inside of the circus tent, had they cut out the acts that we didn't need to see to further the plot or theme . . . . .
The basic plot is that Brad Braden (Charlton Heston) runs the Barnum & Bailey Circus and is in love with Holly (Betty Hutton) but, because he runs the circus like a business, is not so quick to woo her because she is a trapeze artist and, therefore, part of his business. Holly has finally earned the center ring and, of course, chalks this up to Brad's love as much as her talent. Meanwhile, he gets The Great Sebastian (Cornel Wilde) to play the show in order to save it from having to cut it's run short. The Great Sebastian, however, only plays the center ring. So, Holly gets mad at Brad, Sebastian uses this as a wooing point to try to get Holly, Brad dislikes Sebastian, and Holly uses it as a competition to earn the center ring back from Sebastian. Meanwhile, Angel and the Klaus, the elephant trainer, are in a perpetual back and forth about Klaus loving her and trying to own her while she likes Brad and has a history with Sebastian (as do, apparently, half of the women in the world). So when Holly goes for Sebastian, Angel moves in on Brad, and Klaus gets angry and hooks up with the crooks who have been trying to invade and take over the circus midway. Then Holly and Sebastian's competition results in Sebastian being stupid, taking a risk, and injuring his hand beyond repair (maybe). Holly feels guilty and pledges herself to Sebastian. The circus train crashes thanks to Klaus and the hoodlum trying to rob it, the circus materials are wrecked, some people are dead or hurt, and Brad is seriously injured, Sebastian is the only one with the same blood type. Holly takes over and organizes the circus where is crashed and gets the town to come to it--it's a success, she realizes her love for Brad and then Sebastian and Angel decide to get married. Oh right, and Jimmy Stewart is a clown, Buttons, on the lam from authorities after having killed his wife (in some never explained he was a surgeon, she was dying, you kill the one you love thing). He is outed when he has to save Brad and there is a cop on board looking for him--he has thus far avoided trouble by always wearing his clown make-up, even out of costume and while the other clowns are not in make-up. No one ever explains why this isn't questioned.
The plot isn't terrible. It's just fine, actually. What makes all of this so very tedious at over two and a half hours is all of the circus footage. It's just not needed and doesn't do anything for the plot. I wouldn't watch it again.
One funny moment: Bob Hope shows up in the crowd as a spectator.
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