I always seem to catch this movie at the end when the people are marching in to save the day and the cop is handcuffing Jimmy Stewart. Would someone mind giving the summary of this movie? I mainly what to know why he’s being arrested. Also, is he in clown makeup the whole time?
shareYes, Stewart is in clown makeup the entire film. He is a doctor who has killed his terminally ill wife as an act of mercy, and hidden out in the circus. You really must see the whole film. There are several criss-crossing stories with the principal story, beside the heart and working of the circus itself, involving a love triangle between Betty Hutton, Charlton Heston and Cornell Wilde.
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I will try to see the whole movie next chance I get.
Thank you for answering my question.
Also in one scene when he intereacts with the audiance he briefly talks with his mother. He couldn't talk long since they knew the police was watching her.
shareIf this had been made a few years later the detective might have let him go because one is sympathetic and realizes what Buttons did was an act of love rather than a "crime." But Hollywood code prohibited it and Buttons had to be taken into custody.
shareAlthough this isn't one of my favorites, the scene where Buttons is talking to the young girl and giving her his dog is very touching.
shareThat was a young boy he gave his dog to.
shareJust saw it--it was a girl.
shareWrong. It was a boy.
shareActually you are both correst
In the scene when he is talking to his mother is was a boy and in the scene where he is arrested it was a girl
Actually, I just felt bad for the dog. I think it would have made more sense and been more compassionate to leave the pooch with somebody in the circus--Holly, who was aware of Buttons' story. How do we know the kids parents even wanted a pet?
shareGood grief are we going to dissect this poor movie down to the very bone??
shareI'm curious as to when/how they conveyed the specifics of what Buttons did. The most I gleaned from watching the movie was that he was a doctor and somehow was responsible for his wife's death. I never caught that it was assisted suicide, I assumed it was an accident. The only bits of info I recall were a newspaper clipping shown on screen for a few seconds and the investigator telling Brad he was looking for a doctor who killed his wife. I genuinely want to know what I missed. At over 2.5 hours, it's possible my eyes glazed over a time or two.
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