A young man’s decision to run away with a traveling circus leads to romantic complications under the big top.
Chad Hanna (Henry Fonda), a young man from the country, joins a small, three-wagon circus and becomes infatuated with Albany Yates (Dorothy Lamour), the show’s daring equestrian star. Though she is amused by his affection, she eventually departs, leaving Chad behind. He then falls for her successor in the ring, a performer named Caroline Tridd (Linda Darnell), whom he marries. The film captures the spectacle of 19th-century circus life, with its rococo wagons, costumed acrobats, and the constant blare of brass instruments.
This picture marked the third and final cinematic pairing of actor Henry Fonda and novelist Walter D. Edmonds. Fonda had previously starred in adaptations of Edmonds’ Rome Haul (filmed as The Farmer Takes a Wife) and Drums Along the Mohawk. Director Henry King utilized the Technicolor process to fully realize the story’s vibrant setting. The elaborate pageantry of the traveling show, from its costuming to its boisterous atmosphere, becomes a primary focus, creating a visually rich backdrop for the romantic drama.
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox / 86 minutes / 1940
Director: Henry King
Screenplay: Nunnally Johnson
Main Cast: Henry Fonda (Chad Hanna), Dorothy Lamour (Albany Yates), Linda Darnell (Caroline Tridd Hanna), Guy Kibbee (A. D. Huguenine), Jane Darwell (Mrs. Bettina Huguenine), John Carradine (B. D. Bisbee)
