Circus of Horrors (1960)

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

"Circus of Horrors" follows an ethically questionable plastic surgeon who manipulates his way into performing an operation on the scarred daughter of a circus owner, only to gerrymander his way into taking over the traveling big top. What follows is a decades-long practice of transforming disfigured and corrupted women whom are recruited into the circus— but if they decide to leave, they die. An effective riff on "Eyes Without a Face" as well as elements of "Freaks," "Circus of Horrors" is surprising in that it manages to walk a line between inhabiting the space of big top circus entertainment and the realm of true horror; that is to say that its cheery scenes of circus performance are shot with a colorful, family-friendly flair that is dazzling to behold, and yet there is a sinister and macabre subtext that underpins the entire film, leaving the picturesque, Technicolor-y (almost even Disneyesque) circus scenes feeling unsettling and even perverse.The film makes a point to toy with its audience's notions of aesthetics in this way, and in some sense acts as an almost exposé on the dark undercurrent of the big top (because, let's face it— there is something inherently weird about the circus). The power of the film hinges entirely on this interplay, and the dynamic is weird and unnerving enough to never really lose its steam. It's beautifully shot, and the performances are at times dated but overall still effective (we also get a younger Donald Pleasance as the circus's original owner). Anton Diffring has the appropriate look that screams "sadist" and "potentially psychotic," and he works this to the hilt. The conclusion to the film is shocking and fantastically presented.Overall, "Circus of Horrors" is an underrated offering from the crop of '60s British horror films. It is a visually dazzling film that is rich in visuals and colors, an element which is completely off-set by the twisted content and subtext of the plot. Sweet and sour, beautiful and ugly; all great things seem to be a bit of both, don't they? 8/10.

The film-makers and cast of "Circus of Horrors" are delivering what they advertise. It is an in-your-face, flat-out horror production. It is psycho creepy from the very first opening scenes right thru to the end.The murders are done with imagination and gusto and the body count keeps piling up. In addition the young women are gorgeous and some of them actually can act (the ones that can't-who cares, they still look great). The producers basically say: Folks, you asked for this stuff, we promised it and you are going to get it.It should be noted that the wide-screen color filming is spectacular, the costumes are great and it is all set against the background of a real circus.Diffring proves his superior acting skills here as he does an outstanding, surprisingly convincing job as the doctor seeking perfection in weird ways. Whether this type of role or as villains one word can summarize Diffring's acting: effective. You might recall (I believe it was Where Eagles Dare) his chilling delivery of the line "I shall personally rearrange this officer's splints". He's very effective always.This film is entertaining, psycho-nutty, a bit different and beautiful to look at. Don't miss it.

I really like Circus Of Horrors (1960). This movie takes place in England in 1947. It's about a circus leader who is a plastic surgeon and well..........you'll have to watch the movie to find out what unfolds during this rather bizarre movie. This movie is pretty risqué for a 1960 movie. This movie reminds me so much of the Hammer horror films with the use of vibrant colors on the sets and colorful costumes. The acting is good and is similar to Hammer films, as is the musical score. This movie has the hit 1960 song "Look For A Star" by Garry Mills in it. Real circus acrobats were used in this film. In fact, footage was used from actual circus performances. This circus has it all - lions, trapeze artists, clowns, elephants, horses, you name it. There are a lot of tense moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat.This movie stars Anton Diffring, Erika Remberg, Yvonne Monlaur, Donald Pleasence, Conrad Phillips, Kenneth Griffith, Jane Hylton, Vanda Hudson, Yvonne Romain, and Colette Wilde.I highly recommend this movie.

Anton Diffring is the reason why you would like to watch this average horror movie.Plus a bevy of beautiful women.Diffring was a character actor and he succeeds in portraying a circus manager as well as a scientist even with his aristocratic looks.The story is implausible from start to finish ,but in this kind of flick,does it really matter?As soon as they are in France ,the threesome runs into a disfigured young girl (there are plenty of them there,as anybody past infancy knows) .The surgeon (plastic surgery) suggest father Donald Pleasance he give her a beautiful face in return for an occupation in his circus.Dr Schuler (=Schoolboy)soon owns the circus where he takes on disfigured shady persons he "cures" and puts on the bill of the show.It's not difficult:the first time the surgeon has taken a walk through the dark city ,he finds a disfigured whore (there are plenty of them in France ,as everybody knows).What is downright disturbing is that we never see the thespian operate. The circus background is smartly used: snakes,bears,lions,acrobats ,moving targets,and clowns who are very useful when an "accident" happens.A lovely song ,very very early sixties/late fifties ("look for a star" ) adds to the acrobatics scenes.Like this?try these...."Berserk" (O'Connolly ,1967)"Les Yeux Sans Visage" (Georges Franju,1960)