BARNUM
UK/Canada, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Burt Lancaster, Hannah Schygulla.
Directed by Lee Philips.
Barnum is an entertaining look at the life and personality of the great 19th century American showman, Phineas Taylor Barnum. The film is a star vehicle for Burt Lancaster who, in fact, began his career in a circus. Lancaster gives the role great exuberance. Of interest is the casting of German actress Hannah Schygulla, star of many Fassbinder films, as the Swedish singer, Jenny Lind.
Barnum addresses the audience in its own language, and the film has him look back over his past, philosophise about his career, dramatise particular incidents, especially the career of General Tom Thumb and the American tour of Jenny Lind. The film ends with the establishment of the Barnum and Bailey Circus.
The film was designed for the television audience and so aims at the widest possible range of viewers.
1. Audience knowledge of P.T.Barnun his 19th century career, showmanship and philosophy of life, creating the entertainment audience, his sayings (true or not? The film as a piece of Americana?
2. The film as telemovie? for the wide audience, presenting a biography, a portrait of Barnum? Entertaining?
3. A man of the 19th century, the towns, city, Museums, shows, circuses? The era of shows and entrepreneurs within the 19th century context? the musical score, the singers, the circus atmosphere, the songs of Jenny Lind?
4. The device of Barnum talking to the audience? Burt Lancaster in the role, his age, experience, circus background, exuberance and life, enthusiasm, optimism? The actor portraying Barnum as an example of Barnum's philosophy of life, imagination, showmanship, working the audience, bigger and better shows? Money or not? Love in his life, Charity, his daughters? His being taken in, his relationship with Bailey? His comment about not saying that a sucker was born every minute but rather his final comment about people enjoying spectacles and shows? and that he created the audience and people were to be grateful? Even enjoying a put on, a joke and humbug? Barnum's achievement? His reputation? His likening himself to other 19th century American figures? His life spanning the 19th century?
5. Barnum's life: the young boy, admiration for his grandfather, the imagination of Ivy Island and his grandfather giving him the land? As a store keeper, buying the bottles, inventing the raffle, entertaining the towns people, retaining his job? Marrying Charity and her never understanding him, her puritanical approach to life, work and enjoyment? His love for his daughters and their sharing in his ideas? His working in the shop, persuaded to buy the share in the black slave, exhibiting her and her story about being George Washington's Nurse? Advertising in the papers, the rejection by the New York Herald? (And his later going to Bennett, the refusal about Jenny Lind, yet Bennett kissing his hand after bearing Jenny Lind's His getting other acts and taking them on tour, going round the countryside? Bankruptcies? Politics? His encounter with Tom Thumb, his training him, the performances and the success? The visit to England, to Queen Victoria? Tom going on his own way? The museums, their burning down? Peoples reaction and his asking the lady whether she got her money's worth? his desire to get Jenny Lind to America, the encounter with her, the financial bargaining, her outwitting him? Her arrival and his disillusionment? Her bargain? Her singing and the acclaim? His going into the circus? Building up the circus, wanting elephants, the telegram to Bailey and Bailey using the telegram as advertisement? Going to England and buying Jumbo and Jumbo giving entertainment to American children? His allowing himself to be raised on the tusks of the elephant? Charity's death? Her continued suspicions? His friendship with Charity, knowing her over the years, a happy marriage for 17 years? His life and achievement?
6. Charity Barnum, her sternness, puritanical approach, businesslike, in the shop, leaving Barnum, his getting her back, the daughters growing up? His lavish homes and her getting lost in them? Her death? The contrast with Napey, her youthfulness, enthusiasm, support of Barnum?
7. Tom, the midget, his mother, responding to Barnum, his songs and routines, performance, acclaim, to Queen Victoria, meeting the Price of Wales, charming the Queen? His return and helping Barnum with finance?
8. Jenny Lind, her reputation, Barnum? going to see her, her plainness and answering her own door, her shrewd businesslike approach, the arrival in New York, the publicity machine and Barnum’s inventions, her being dismayed at the crowds? Before the performance, the clash with Barnum, proving to be beautiful, her singing and achievement?
9. The various partners that Barnum had, persuasion, taking them in, losing his money?
10. The various acts, especially the black slave and her story of George Washington? The exhibits in the museum and the American public's desire to see them?
11. The world of entertainment, commerce, showmanship, PR? The impact of Barnum?
