The Show of Shows: 100 Years of Vaudeville, Circuses and Carnivals

This film tells the story of itinerant circus performers, cabaret acts and fairground attractions, showing rarities and never-before seen footage of fairgrounds, circus entertainment, freak shows, variety performances, music hall and seaside entertainment, chronicled from the 19th and 20th century. We will see early shows that wowed the world and home movies of some of the greatest circus families. Director Benedikt Erlingsson takes us back to the days when the most outlandish, skillful and breathtaking acts traveled the world. This rich visual archive has been created with exclusive access to The University of Sheffield’s National Fairground Archive and is accompanied by an epic new score by Georg Holm and Orri Páll Dýrason of Sigur Rós, in collaboration with Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Kjartan Dagur Holm.

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O'Shaughnessy's Boy

O'Shaughnessy's Boy

1935

Side Show

Side Show

1931

Circus Girl

Circus Girl

1937

Polly of the Circus

Polly of the Circus

1932

Carnival Lady

Carnival Lady

1933

Tweety's Circus

Tweety's Circus

1955

Walking My Baby Back Home

Walking My Baby Back Home

1953

Fortune Favours the Fantabulous

Fortune Favours the Fantabulous

2023

George White's Scandals

George White's Scandals

1945

A Friend of Mine

A Friend of Mine

2011

Mela

Mela

1980

The Great Circus Mystery

1925

Son of Ox

Son of Ox

2024

Puttin on the Act

Puttin on the Act

1940

Der Tiger des Zirkus Farini

1923

Carola Lamberti

Carola Lamberti

1954

That

That

2012

Show Folks

Show Folks

1928

Spotlight Scandals

Spotlight Scandals

1943

Trois jours de bringue à Paris

Trois jours de bringue à Paris

1954