A dull and hokey 103 minutes until the movie slowly winds to its predictable conclusion. Despite lensing on real locations with a real circus, production values are surprisingly moderate, and credits remain merely serviceable. It says much for the overall entertainment value of the picture when we say that (aside from the songs and Mr Purcell), one of its real pleasures is the appearance of that old ham, Walter Kingsford, in a couple of scenes. A pity that writers Lennart and Diamond can't come up with something more amusing than simply regurgitating some of Mr Kaye's hoary old vocal and slapstick routines. Still, the romantic footage which provides a role for Miss Angeli, is even duller!
Director-choreographer Michael Kidd keeps the CinemaScope screen filled with action during the songs and musical numbers. Indeed some of the staging here is quite inventively vigorous, especially when actual locations are utilized. But otherwise the direction is a little flat, though Kidd does allow Noel Purcell, Robert Coote and Rex Evans to give their usual rich performances.
Both Kidd and Kaye are somewhat handicapped by the tediously clichéd script which hands Kaye little in the way of genuine comic opportunities. What we are dished out instead are more dollops of that well-rehearsed vocal mimicking and tiresomely hackneyed pratfalls of which even the redhead's most rabid devotees must now be satiated. As for those of us who are not so indulgently inclined towards hammy Danny...
As intimated above, Miss Angeli has little to do otherwise than to look waif-like appealing. Patricia Cutts gives a more vigorous performance. Baccaloni is okay, but far and away it's the monkey who steals the movie's acting honors.
Director-choreographer Michael Kidd keeps the CinemaScope screen filled with action during the songs and musical numbers. Indeed some of the staging here is quite inventively vigorous, especially when actual locations are utilized. But otherwise the direction is a little flat, though Kidd does allow Noel Purcell, Robert Coote and Rex Evans to give their usual rich performances.
Both Kidd and Kaye are somewhat handicapped by the tediously clichéd script which hands Kaye little in the way of genuine comic opportunities. What we are dished out instead are more dollops of that well-rehearsed vocal mimicking and tiresomely hackneyed pratfalls of which even the redhead's most rabid devotees must now be satiated. As for those of us who are not so indulgently inclined towards hammy Danny...
As intimated above, Miss Angeli has little to do otherwise than to look waif-like appealing. Patricia Cutts gives a more vigorous performance. Baccaloni is okay, but far and away it's the monkey who steals the movie's acting honors.