Trapeze on DVD

• By
• Rick Forchuk

Image by MGM Studios
Trapeze starring Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis

Where to find the 1956 movie Trapeze

The DVD I am looking for is Trapeze, starring Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis. Any idea as to how I can obtain it? – H. L., via e-mail

In 1956 this cast was about as good as it could get with heartthrob Tony Curtis, he-man Burt Lancaster, and Gina Lollobrigida, said at the time to be the most beautiful woman in the world. It’s a circus story, focussing on the trapeze, and the relationships that make this circus world a soap opera with loves, hates, and skulduggery.

The key plot line here is the triple somersault that has only been achieved by one performer in history, Mike Ribble (Burt Lancaster), before an accident that appears to have ended his career flying through the air with the greatest of ease. Along comes young upstart Tino Orsini (Tony Curtis), who wants Mike to teach him the triple.

Interesting back story here – Burt Lancaster, before becoming a movie star, was a circus performer specializing in the trapeze, and he did his own stunts for this film. When you see Mike Ribble do the triple, that’s no stunt double, that’s Lancaster himself. Of the three main stars, only Miss Lollobrigida is still alive, who's now 85 years old, living in her native Italy.

Best bet for finding this film on DVD is to go to Amazon.ca where several copies are in stock.