This film was produced by the King Brothers, guys who existed just outside the mainstream of Hollywood, and was directed by Kurt Neumann, a guy who came from Germany and apparently found himself back in his homeland at the time of the production of this film. It stars B movie legend Steve Cochran paired with the great character actress Ann Baxter in a rare leading role. B movie fans will also enjoy one of the more substantial performances of Tor Johnson's career -- he plays the carnival strongman who cares for Baxter's character, the oddly named "Willie", and watches over her like a dark angel. Lyle Bettger also gets one of his best roles here, as a high diver who teacher Willie the tricks of his trade and ends up being betrayed by her because of her passion for Joe (Cochran).

The story itself is fairly typical and won't really please anyone who's looking for fundamentally surprising or interesting story elements. However the script itself is pretty juicy and high in quality. There are a lot of memorable lines of dialog, such as when Joe tells Willie, "we're not going to let a little thing like you being married get between us, are we?" As that line would indicate, Cochran is playing a true blue heel in this one, and he goes to town with it. Ultimately he's not a very interesting character compared to Baxter's, but he plays it well. Baxter barely looks like the actress I remember, but partly that's because of the garish color process used for this film. Roan's DVD seems to have been made from a print instead of a negative as well and there are chunks of a few scenes missing and damaged.

This film was probably not ever going to be one of the greats, but speaking as a fan of circus and carnival type movies it is good for what it is. I like it better than bigger budget films from the time like DeMille's "Greatest Show on Earth" and the Lancaster/Hecht" "Trapeze." In some ways that's because the very seediness of the production actually lends itself better to the carny aesthetic.

A young girl (Anne Baxter) runs away and joins a traveling carnival troupe in Colonia (Germany),an American-owned circus in all its beautiful and sadness in the setting . She falls in love with her employer (Steve Cochran) and is hired by the ringmaster (J.C. Flippen). Later on , she is contracted by a somersault artist (Lyle Bettger),who teaches her the leap routine and soon becomes the main attraction but he has a fatal accident . Anne Baxter as an aerial acrobat dropping to swimming pool is interested in both men.

The film is a melodramatic and romantic tale with the classic triangular love story through an European tour and meshing drama with events offstage . It deals with an U.S. carnival in Colonia sets the scene for sin , sex , passion and melodrama . The movie is wrought with romance and glamour but is a simple and tragic story about a scheming young girl and the men of whom she takes advantage . This dramatic flick packs an exciting final adding the beauty-beast myth . Extraordinary cast and good performances , especially from Anne Baxter and George Nader as a journalist , both of whom are top-notch under Kurt Neumann's correct direction . Furthermore , some scenes the actors perform their own stunts . After that , George Nader stayed in Germany where had success playing Jerry Cotton , a solid entry in German crime series . Fine camera work with exquisite images in Agfacolor and superb European location by cameraman Ernest Haller . The motion picture was well directed by Kurt Neumann , known director of classic Sci-Fi (The fly , Rocketship X-M , Kronos) , besides he realized at the same time the German version titled ¨Circus of love¨ with Curt Jurgens and Eva Bartok in similar roles .

No doubt the great success of The Greatest Show On Earth inspired somebody at RKO to put this together. If they had done it as originally planned in 3-D it might have sold some tickets. But in just ordinary technicolor, it's just a very trashy story with Anne Baxter trying in her blond wig and most unconvincing German accent when she bothers with it to be Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Mamie Van Doren or any of the rest of those busty blond sex objects of the 50s.

Jay C. Flippen has brought his show to Germany for a fresh start and Steve Cochran is his sideshow barker. Cochran takes a look at Anne after she tries to steal his wallet and convinces Flippen to take her on to help him learn German, the better for his spiels in Germany.

Lyle Bettger who does a high diving act takes Anne on as a partner and teaches her the act. That's the start of a rivalry between two of the biggest screen villains of the 50s for Baxter. Bettger marries her, but she can't resist Cochran when he wants a booty call.

Great actress that she was Anne Baxter just does not convince in this one. George Nader is kind of shoehorned into the film to give her a third and decent love interest. But in the end he's not Anne's savior. You won't believe who is.

This film might have been in the planning stage when Howard Hughes owned RKO. I can see Hughes saying he could do a better circus film than Cecil B. DeMille. But he sold RKO and we get this.

This is one trashy movie, but there are those of us out there who love trashy movies.