The Greatest Showman

I'm a little late with this one, and I admittedly nearly didn't watch it at all because of some critics reviews, but I just turned off the television after watching The Greatest Showman, and ... I loved it!

I had been asked so many times recently "Have you watched it yet?" so with the recent devilish weather we've been having keeping us indoors, Joy and I put our feet up and grabbed the popcorn.

Twentieth Century Fox billed the movie as:-

"Hugh Jackman leads an all-star cast in this bold and original musical filled with infectious showstopping performances that will bring you to your feet time and time again.

Inspired by the story of P.T. Barnum (Jackman), the film follows the visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle."

But with one critic writing "The Greatest Showman is a disjointed, glossy, sugar-coated mess that just skates by on Jackman's natural charm and charisma." I was admittedly a little apprehensive. 

However, I'm glad I went with the opinion of the masses, because it's an entertaining and captivating film which has risen in popularity week on week ever since its release, and that speaks volumes!

Its success is testament, in almost every aspect, to old-fashioned values working well, right down to Hugh Jackman's star power in getting the the project off the ground and giving it his promotional firepower. It reminded me of something else we all know so well - old time radio - as the success of shows back in radio's golden age often hinged on who promoted them.

It also got me to wondering if any of the series, like Cavalcade of America, had produced a show about P T Barnum's life, so that I could compare from then and now - and I was in luck! There are quite a few shows about P T Barnum himself, and also from when the circus came to town. You can listen to any of these by clicking the links below:-

Lone Ranger - P T Barnum Goes West

Captains of Industry - The Story of Phineus T Barnum

Cavalcade of America - Showmanship

Railroad Hour - Swedish Nightingale

With opinions divided on whether 'fairytale' Hollywood has reinvented P T Barnum to be a beaming champion of minorities and misfits, rather than the man described as being quite the opposite in the annals of history, I'll leave up to you to decide. I'd love to know in the comments below what you think?

Happy listening my friends,