The Greatest Showman Dvd

The Greatest Showman is a 2017 American musical drama film directed by Michael Gracey in his directorial debut, written by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon and starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya. Featuring nine original songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the film was inspired by the story of P. T. Barnum’s creation of Barnum’s American Museum and the lives of its star attractions.

Principal photography began in New York City in November 2016. The film premiered on December 8, 2017, aboard RMS Queen Mary 2. It was released in the United States on December 20, 2017, by 20th Century Fox, seven months after Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus ceased operations, and grossed $435 million worldwide, making it the fifth-highest-grossing live-action musical of all time.

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, with criticism for its artistic license, with some reviewers calling it “faux-inspiring and shallow”, The Greatest Showman was praised for the performances, music, and production values, and received nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for Jackman at the 75th Golden Globe Awards. The film won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for the song “This Is Me”, was nominated for Best Original Song at the 90th Academy Awards and won the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

Plot

In the mid-19th century, P. T. Barnum and his troupe perform a show at the circus.

As a child, Barnum and his tailor father, Philo, work for the Hallett family. Barnum loves their daughter Charity. When she attends finishing school, they write to each other, eventually marrying and raising two daughters, Caroline and Helen, in New York City. They live a humble life; though Charity is happy, Barnum craves more.

Barnum loses his shipping clerk job when the company goes bankrupt. He later secures a bank loan, deceptively using his former employer’s lost ships as “collateral”. He opens Barnum’s American Museum in downtown Manhattan which features various wax figures. Ticket sales are slow, so his children suggest showcasing something “alive”. Barnum adds “freak” performers, such as bearded lady Lettie Lutz. This garners higher attendance, but also protests and poor reviews from well-known critic James Gordon Bennett.

Barnum renames his venture, “Barnum’s Circus” and recruits playwright Phillip Carlyle to help generate publicity. Phillip is mesmerized by the African American trapeze artist, Anne Wheeler, but he hides his feelings. While touring abroad, Phillip arranges for Barnum and his troupe to meet Queen Victoria. Barnum persuades famed Swedish singer Jenny Lind to tour America, with him as her manager. Lind’s American debut is a success. During her song, Phillip’s parents see him and Anne holding hands. As Barnum gains favor with aristocratic patrons, he distances himself from his troupe, advising them to work without him. Dejected, they decide to stand against local harassers.

When Phillip and Anne attend the theater together, they run into Phillip’s parents. They chastise him for “parading around with the help”. Phillip tries to convince Anne that they can be together, but she disagrees, saying they will never be accepted socially. As Barnum takes Lind on a U.S. tour, Charity, who stays home with their daughters, feels isolated from her husband. While on tour, Lind becomes romantically attracted to Barnum. When he rebuffs her, she threatens to quit and later retaliates with a surprise kiss at the end of her last show, which is photographed by the press.

Barnum returns home to find his circus on fire, caused by a fight between protesters and the troupe. Phillip runs into the burning building, believing Anne is inside. He suffers serious injuries before Barnum rescues him. Barnum learns the culprits have been caught and that Lind has canceled her tour after her and Barnum’s “scandal”. Barnum’s mansion is foreclosed upon and Charity takes their daughters to her parents’ home.

Devastated, Barnum retreats to a local bar. His troupe finds him there and say that despite their disappointments, they still consider themselves a family. Inspired, he resolves to build a new show and not let ambition rule him. Phillip awakens in a hospital with Anne by his side, while Barnum and Charity reunite.

The recovering Phillip offers his share of the profits to help Barnum rebuild the circus in exchange for becoming a full partner, which Barnum readily accepts. To economize, Barnum transforms the enterprise into an open-air tent circus. The revamped circus is a huge success and Barnum has Phillip oversee daily operations so he can spend more time with his family.

Cast

Hugh Jackman as P. T. Barnum, an ambitious showman and entrepreneur
Ellis Rubin as Young P. T. Barnum
Ziv Zaifman provides Young P. T. Barnum’s singing voice[citation needed]
Zac Efron as Phillip Carlyle, a playwright who becomes Barnum’s partner
Michelle Williams as Charity Hallett-Barnum, the wife of P. T. Barnum
Skylar Dunn as Young Charity
Rebecca Ferguson as Jenny Lind, a famous Swedish singer known as the “Swedish Nightingale”
Loren Allred provides Lind’s singing voice.
Zendaya as Anne Wheeler, an acrobat and trapeze artist
Keala Settle as Lettie Lutz, a bearded lady.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as W. D. Wheeler, an acrobat and Anne’s older brother
Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Deng Yan, a Chinese acrobat and blade specialist
Paul Sparks as James Gordon Bennett, the founder, editor, and publisher of the New York Herald
Sam Humphrey as Charles Stratton, a dwarf performer who is also known by his stage name General Tom Thumb
Austyn Johnson as Caroline Barnum, Barnum’s older daughter
Cameron Seely as Helen Barnum, Barnum’s younger daughter
Diahann Carroll as Joice Heth
Fredric Lehne as Benjamin Hallett, Charity’s father and Barnum’s father-in-law
Gayle Rankin as Queen Victoria
Eric Anderson as Mr. O’Malley, a former pickpocket whom Barnum employs at his circus
Byron Jennings as Mr. Carlyle, Phillip’s father
Betsy Aidem as Mrs. Carlyle, Phillip’s mother
Damian Young as Mr. Winthrop
Tina Benko as Mrs. Winthrop
Will Swenson as Philo Barnum, a tailor and the late father of P. T. Barnum
Sandou Trio Russian Bar makes an uncredited background cameo during the revamped circus scene.