Circus World (film)

Circus World released as The Magnificent Showman in the United Kingdom is a 1964 drama film starring John Wayne, Claudia Cardinale and Rita Hayworth. It was directed by Henry Hathaway and produced by Samuel Bronston, with a screenplay by Ben Hecht, Julian Halevy and James Edward Grant, from a story by Philip Yordan and Nicholas Ray.

In 1901, Matt Masters John Wayne, a Wild West circus star in the mold of Buffalo Bill Cody, bought a bankrupt circus in 1885 and successfully rebuilt it into a combination three ring and Wild West extravaganza, mixing Wild West Show acts with conventional circus acts in a winning combination. He has successfully toured the United States for more than a decade. Now that the century is about to turn, he wants to take his show to Europe.His Circus Boss, Cap Carson Lloyd Nolan, is against taking the show across the Atlantic. He maintains that Europe is bad luck for American circuses. He also calls Matt on his reason for making a European tour Masters wants to find the lost great love of his life, Lili Alfredo Rita Hayworth, and figures that this tour will smoke her out if for no other reason than to see her child, Toni Alfredo Claudia Cardinale, Masters adopted daughter. One of his Western stars and wannabepartner, Steve McCabe John Smith, also attempts to dissuade Masters, but to no avail. Masters buys a freighter, renames her the Circus Maximus, and the show sails for Europe. ........

Source: Wikipedia