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What's After the Movie?
Romantic drama

Trapeze (1956): Cast & Plot

Trapeze (1956) movie poster

Trapeze is a 1956 romantic drama directed by Carol Reed, starring Burt Lancaster as Mike Ribble, Tony Curtis and Gina Lollobrigida. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes.

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Trapeze (1956) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Director
Carol Reed
Genres
Drama , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Trapeze About?

The premise of Trapeze without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The story follows two male trapeze artists who attempt the perilous “triple” routine that pushes them to dizzying heights. Their act is upended when a seductive female performer joins them, turning the duo into a risky trio and sparking jealousy, rivalry, and heightened danger amid breathtaking spectacle.

Trapeze Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • prologue
  • scene during opening credits
  • steamy romance
  • femme fatale
  • implied sex
  • france
  • tragic love
  • self sacrifice
  • infidelity
  • workplace sabotage
  • audience
  • circus owner
+38 more
  • rigger
  • reference to the ringling bros.
  • circus film
  • opening action scene
  • drunkenness
  • bar
  • partnership
  • envy
  • american in france
  • deception
  • wound
  • circus horse act
  • little person
  • ex lovers
  • bloody nose
  • mentor protege relationship
  • italian woman
  • manipulative woman
  • snake
  • lion
  • fear
  • betrayal
  • walking cane
  • circus aerialist
  • sexual predator
  • surrogate family
  • circus performance
  • coworker romance
  • rivals become lovers
  • workplace drama
  • melodrama
  • bare chested man
  • falling from height
  • physically disabied man
  • man wears tights
  • band the musical group
  • romantic rivalry
  • lancaster and curtis
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Cast & crew

Trapeze Cast & Characters

Burt Lancaster leads the cast as Mike Ribble, with Tony Curtis as Tino Orsini and Gina Lollobrigida as Lola. Directed by Carol Reed; 18 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Trapeze

· 14 more
From the director

More from Carol Reed

More films directed by Carol Reed, best-rated first: The Third Man, Odd Man Out, Oliver! and Mutiny on the Bounty.

Full filmography
Plot

Trapeze Plot Summary

What happens in Trapeze from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Mike Ribble, Burt Lancaster, is an embittered trapeze aerialist who can barely walk with a cane after a fall during a performance. Once the crown jewel of the aerial act, he now faces a circus world that has moved on, and the spectator’s danger he once thrived on haunts his quieter days. Brash, inexperienced Tino Orsini wants Mike to train him to perform the dangerous triple somersault, a feat that only a handful have completed.

Full summary

The whole story of Trapeze, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Trapeze Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Trapeze.

Trapeze (1956) trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Trapeze?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor plays the embittered trapeze aerialist Mike Ribble?

Details

Trapeze Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Visutá hrazda” and “Trapezio”.

Also known as
  • Visutá hrazda
  • Trapezio
  • Trapèze
  • Trapéz
  • Trapecio
  • Trapézio
  • Trapéza
  • 트래피즈
  • 空中飞人
  • Трапеция
  • Trapezi
  • Trapetsi
+2 more
  • Trapets
  • Trapecija

Seen Trapeze?

FAQ

Trapeze FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Trapeze, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Trapeze?

Trapeze runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was Trapeze released?

Trapeze was released on May 30, 1956.

Who directed Trapeze?

Trapeze was directed by Carol Reed.

More films by Carol Reed

Who is in the cast of Trapeze?

Trapeze stars Burt Lancaster as Mike Ribble, Tony Curtis as Tino Orsini and Gina Lollobrigida as Lola, among 18 credited actors.

Does Trapeze have a post-credit scene?

No. Trapeze has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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