TONI TALKS【 THE GREATEST SHOWMAN 】BEST IN SHOW BUSINESS

The Greatest Holiday Movie Musical

Took 7 years to make and uniquely entertains by putting diversity on display with a heart-warming story set to soul-stirring songs

Christmas Eve 2017, our family flocked to the theater to see the musical drama, The Greatest Showman. The fictionalized tale tells the rags-to-riches story of the infamous American showman P.T. Barnum.

The movie is transcendent. It’s a no-brainer holiday pick for movie night if the folks you’re hosting plan to stay overnight. The story’s enduring theme is timeless, and its message merits amplification.

Consider investing a bit of time watching the clip embedded below the explanation of the backstory. It entertains by encapsulating the movie’s origin story.

Stumbling on the video was a happy accident. I discovered it on YouTube. The search began as a way to showcase a mix of songs that tell the story. Clips, shared in the body of this piece, make a compelling case to either watch “The Greatest Show” for the first time or double back and revisit it.

Ideas come from everywhere. The suggestion that would take seven years to become “The Greatest Showman” grew from a remark comparing Hugh Jackman to P.T. Barnum.

The comparison spoke to Jackman’s soul and sparked a lengthy campaign to move the project from idea to fruition. Watch the clip narrated featuring singer Jeremy Jordan that fills in the blanks of the backstory.

Jordan is also an actor. He played a pivotal role during the pitch process. He singlehandedly delivered the musical rendition of all the songs. Jordan’s performance was instrumental in getting the movie greenlit by producers.

In a pithy twist, actor Zac Efron was cast in the role Jordan coveted. To be honest, Efron was likely the best man for the role of Barnum’s sidekick. Yet, we need not cry for Jordan, because he’s doing quite well.

Over the past decade, Jeremy Jordan hasn’t wasted a moment lamenting the past. This guy kept it moving. He’s carved out a career on the theater stage as well as on the small screen.

Hugh Jackman’s star turn in the movie pulls you in from the start. The introduction of supporting characters does an equally phenomenal job of holding your attention throughout.

The content presented is my attempt to explain the indescribable quality that continues to conjure movie magic every time I watch it. This stunning visual spectacle, directed by Michael Gracey, speaks to his brilliance and deft touch orchestrating the efforts of the ensemble cast.

Let your eyeballs lead you to voyeuristic views. Allow your ears to listen to the music that gave the movie wings to soar off the screen. Join me on a guided tour, via embedded YouTube videos, of one of the greatest musical movie ever made!

The Greatest Showman puts diversity on display by celebrating the full spectrum of human uniqueness. The underlying message speaks to the value of each human life. It’s the quality that makes the film unforgettable.

Musical themes are subdivided into succinct vignettes. Snippets of subjects broached include being othered, adversity, poverty, prejudice, the nature of love, classism, mob mentality, and egomania.

Measured storytelling, reflected through a prism of perspectives, mirrors each character’s innermost thoughts. You witness the extraordinary inertia it takes to simply show up for all who are labeled unworthy.

Phenomenal acting made The Greatest Showman, a masterpiece. Talented content creators deftly addressed a myriad of issues. However, actors and actresses translated the result into pictures and sound. The combination produced a rare treat.

The spotlight shines brightest on the movie’s anchors. Hugh Jackman as Barnum and Michelle Williams in the role of his wife Charity. Supporting actor Zac Effron (Barnum’s business partner) and Zendaya as his forbidden love, also contributed to the heavy lifting.

Equally delightful, was the stellar cast of characters chosen to portray the ostracized circus performers. Each leans into their individuality. It is the quality that vaults them above the imaginary bar of societal expectation.

Lettie Lutz the bearded lady, played to perfection by Keala Suttle, led the group rendition of the embedded video “This Is Me.” It was nominated for an Oscar in 2018, as best original song.

The song showcases how the performers lift each other up in the spirit of solidarity. The plotline showcases their determination to achieve, against all odds, which by extension, exerts the power to overcome adversity. Highlighting their group effort adds a “feel-good” element to the story.

What resulted was greater than just providing entertainment. Barnum unknowingly carved out space that his employees laid claim to as their home. More than just building a business, Barnum’s circus served as the magnet capable of attracting a make-shift family.

Right out the gate, the film fills in the blanks of what eventually led to the founding of the Barnum & Bailey Circus with a dream sequence. A cameo of Finn shows him staring at a tux and tails in an upscale store window.

A deeply resonant voice-amplified by the orchestrated sound of a choir grabs the audience’s attention in the opening sequence and never lets go. Delivered with bombast, the audience gets a glimpse of Finn’s future.

The compelling vision effectively sets the stage for PT Barnum’s story to unfold. Once Finn’s imagination is unleashed, a ringmaster dressed in tux and tails appears center stage, surrounded by performers.

Here we see the boy’s greatest aspiration. It’s everything he could ever want. It’s all he believes he’ll ever need. He holds the picture in his mind. It silently informs his steps, moving him closer to the dream of who, what, and where he wants to be.

Finn’s reverie is broken by his father who rushes out the shop door with a bolt of fabric. His dad literally snatches the boy back to reality. The clothes his dad wears are part of a show to hide how poor they are.

This point is driven home when the lens zooms in on Finn’s worn shoe, which is barely able to contain his foot. The next scene stages the entire story. Finn is shown assisting his father, at a rural mansion of the Hallet family outside New York City.

The story spins on its axis when we are introduced to young Charity Hallet. Affectionate glances and giggles between the youth provide proof that they are smitten with each other. Shockingly, Charity’s father spots the sparks and forbids Finn from having anything to do with his daughter.

Down but not dejected, Finn croons to his crush Charity about his vision for their future. Years pass, and the two consistently correspond by mail. Against the consternation of her father, Finn and Charity get married, have children, and are plunged into abject poverty.

Struggling to provide for his family, Finn stretches the truth to secure a loan to fund a museum of oddities in downtown Manhattan. Failing to attract an audience and feeling dejected, an idea uttered by his young daughter enlivens the museum.

Finn switches gears and begins recruiting hidden human talent who pique the audience’s curiosity. Each performer shares the load of entertainment. However, the more popular the show becomes, the more he faces scorn from a snotty newspaperman who serves as the voice of the upper crust of society.

Now known to the public as PT Barnum, Finn proves there is no such thing as bad publicity. In a nasty turn, the theater critic, James Gordon Bennet, pens a scathing article that brands the enterprise a circus.

In a pithy twist, Finn catches the brick that’s thrown at him and uses the word, Circus to form the foundation that sets his venture apart. Though profits are rolling in, and the family vastly upgrades their lifestyle, Finn remains unsatisfied.

After a particularly painful episode, where his daughter is shunned by mini mean girls, Finn enlists Phillip Carlyle, played by Zac Effron. Carlyle is the son of the toniest of the New York elite.

Finn explains that he wants to go after the carriage trade and is willing to make Carlyle his apprentice and junior partner. The choreographed interplay between Jackman and Effron to seal the deal is applaudable.

Finn’s longing to be embraced by the upper crust of society leads him in a new direction. The brilliance of the film’s editorial team emerges through the ease with which they skillfully juggle the storylines.

The addition of Phillip Carlyle lifts the trajectory of the circus performers. Finn’s preoccupation with chasing fame and fortune carves out space for an interracial love story to emerge between his junior partner and a performer named Anne Wheeler, played by Zendaya.

The story takes a sharp turn when Carlyle gets the troupe invited to travel to Europe to meet the Queen of England. At court, Carlyle introduces Finn to the global singing phenom Jenny Lind, dubbed the “Swedish Nightingale.”

Finn becomes infatuated with her talent. After Jenny shares that she’s never been to the United States. The capitalistic wheels in Finn’s mind are switched on. Unleashing his charm, Finn convinces Jenny to return with him to America and embark on a national tour.

Finn’s decision to leave his family and travel the country with Jenny Lind strains his relationship with Charity. Throwing caution to the wind, Finn puts Phillip Carlyle in charge of the circus in his absence.

Clips of burgeoning crowds attest to the popularity of Barnum’s circus. On the flip side, animosity anchored in jealousy begins to build between the town’s people and performers.

Unlike the societal snobs who snub him, angry mobs gather nightly. Agitators, who travel in packs, begin taunting performers in an effort to cause chaos.

Meanwhile, Jenny Lind’s affection grows for Finn. Miscalculating his joy for passion, Jenny expresses her feelings. Caught off guard, Finn thwarts her advances. His reaction gives new meaning to the words, hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned.

The musical builds to a crescendo as stories crash into each other. All that was temporarily right veers in a horribly wrong direction.

Two love songs carry the movie forward like a stream merging into a river. The stories share the flow of two relationships that are at different stages. One is tested by time. The other is burdened by bigotry before it’s begun.

The first micro-story fans embers of an old flame. Alone in the Barnum family’s mansion, Charity pines for the promises Finn made in the past.

On the flip side, a budding relationship between Philip Carlyle, a wealthy white man, and Anne Wheeler, a Black trapeze artist is nipped in the bud on the heels of a chance encounter with his parents.

On the stairs leading to the theater, Phillip introduces Anne to his parents. When the senior Carlyle voices his disapproval, Anne turns and dashes away. This scene highlights the challenges faced by interracial couples.

Though Phillip rebuffs his parents, Anne is dissuaded by the societal scorn she predicts lies ahead. Philip responds in earnest with a song that voices his belief that their love is strong enough to conquer prejudice.

The song Rewrite the Stars dovetails into the central theme of the plot. Lyrics convey the idea that love is worth fighting for because it has the power to obliterate obstacles.

The entire movie hinges on the idea that people who are brave enough to follow their hearts and break free from the constraints placed upon them by society, family, and expectations, can change their destiny.

Anne dejectedly walks away from Phillip at the end of the song signaling her acquiescence to societal pressure. The death knell that threatens to doom their relationship is metaphorically reignited when Barnum’s building catches on fire.

Just as the museum (that is home to the performers) goes up in flames, Finn returns to New York. The reunion between his wife and daughters at the train station is interrupted by shouts that the circus is on fire.

A clip shows a fight breaking out between the performers and protesters. The fire marks a pivotal moment. Panicked because he doesn’t see Anne, Phillip runs back into the burning building, and Finn follows.

Unfortunately, the building burns down and brings Finn to financial ruin. Returning home, he’s met by Charity who waves a foreclosure slip. Beyond disappointed, she gathers the children and moves back in with her parents.

The pivotal scene leads Finn to reevaluate his priorities. Devastated Finn, goes to the local bar to drown his sorrow.

Wallowing in pity, his circus troupe converges to shake him out of his stupor. The rousing musical romp, delivered in a group serenade features unity and acceptance.

Finn realizes that although he achieved his dream of creating a spectacular and unique entertainment experience, what he values most is family. He reflects on what he lost in the effort to gain societal recognition.

I’m a sucker for happy endings and, The Greatest Showman,” is a roller coaster ride, that doesn’t disappoint. Charity’s restored faith in her husband empowers him to revamp his original idea for the circus.

Finn concludes that there’s no reason to invest in a building. All they need is each other and a tent to house the performers. In this context, striving equates to thriving.

The reality is adversity made them stronger. The movie comes to a close when Finn decides to ditch fame and fortune for the family. Instead, he chooses to pass his legacy on to Phillip and Anne.

Hope you enjoyed this review of the greatest movie musical ever!

🔹About Me ➖ Toni Greathouse ➖ Toni The Talker I love watching movies and adore live theater. It was an acquired taste from frequent viewership, starting in childhood. My dad introduced me to Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, and Bette Davis. My mom was a huge fan of the stage and saw every play August Wilson made live. This passion for movies and theater is the legacy that’s been passed on to the next generation.

🔹About Me ➖ Toni Greathouse (moniker) Toni The Talker ➖ Racing toward age 60. Living every day like it’s my last, but planning like I’ll be here 60 more years. Rewriting my reality in ways that will leave a legacy that outlives me.