Step right down! I have finally seen The Greatest Showman, and I am at a fumbling loss for words. My mind is a scramble of clashing story lines --- some true to life, many not, and of voices shouting – that didn’t happen! Self-esteem and respect for all seems to be the big theme of this movie musical. Never mind that Barnum lived over a hundred years before before the dawn of the PC Enlightment. Perhaps the most winning song is “This Is Me.”
Thus, we should not be surprised by the following scene: When P.T. takes Tom Thumb on tour abroad and is given the chance to entertain Queen Victoria, the Queen must also accept all of Barnum’s freaks, insits the showman, arguing equal respect for even the weirdest among us The Queen accepts. In real life, nothing like that. Tom Thumb made a solo appearance. The freaks would have been back in New York holding court at Barnum’s museum.
Mostly, I feel cheated by my own nagging knowledge. It gets in the way of what’s up there on the screen. How I wish I knew nothing of the legendary showman Absolutely nothing. And then, maybe, I could enjoy the The Greatest Showman as are its legion of raving fans -- my own kin among them -- who have have seen the film more than once, and who have made its sound track a best seller.
These things happen, Tinseltown to Times Square. For example, don’t go near a recent new film out out called The Trapp family of Singers — that is, if you treasure the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical. Turns out that the the Sound of Music is mostly a fairy tale.
Here is a scene in The Greatest Showman that I would love to have experienced in a blissful state if ignorance: The P.T. Barnum Circus (in real life, it was called Barnum’s New York museum, NOT circus) goes up in flames (yes, it did). Barnum hasn’t the money to rebuild (no, he did). So P.T.Jackman, our engaging actor playing the role with winning gusto, is inspired to speed-walk victoriously across town to salvation on a vacant lot. Skip having to raise money for another firetrap! Up pops a lollipop of a big top, as bright and clean as a Disney balloon. Heart-warming transition to a higher level of showmanship — you’re right, none of it happened that way.
No, nothing like that will you find in dull, medllesome history books. I was left feeling cheated of my fair share of tears over that triumphal climax. And left knowing that I can’t review this film in any way approaching “objective.” So I won’t. The less you know about P.T, the more likely you are to enjoy the musical in the movie. Look for a run on Broadway.
And what, I wonder, might the Prince of Humbug himself have thought of The Greatest Showman? I can see him, his own self-esteem elevated by Hollywood, smiling down upon an ambitiously clever cinematic illusion with a rare twinkle in his scheming eye.
“Job well done, gentlemen. – Jumbo of a humbug!”
2 comments:
You didn't mention the Cirque style of the acts. Wardrobe looked nothing like that in 'the day' = there was no spandex - tights were knit cotton and often baggy at the knees. Never mind the Don Foote style ringmaster wardrobe. The lyra came about long after Barnum. There was no web in Barnum's day and It wasn't until the 1970s that lyra came over with the Iron Curtain acts. This is only what I noticed from the trailer. I didn't see the movie
I didn't mention many things. And you are right in your examples. I stated that I was not gong to review the film, for my reasons given. I have higher hopes for the movie now in the works about Leitzel and Cadona. I would love to see a great period drama about some aspect of American circus history.
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