Jacob is an elderly escapee from the local nursing home who goes to track down the circus. Charlie, the head of the circus, manages to corral Jacob in his office and learns that Jacob has a long and distinct history with the circus. With Charlie's encouragement, Jacob begins to tell his story. As a young man, Jacob had set his sights on being a veterinarian. On the day he was to take his final test, news came that his parents had been killed. Jacob lost everything that day. His home, his parents, his career.
Jacob sets out for a new town and jumps a train, never suspecting that his life was about to change forever. Following the theme of this film, Jacob quickly learns that you have to go after what you want. The train turns out to be a circus train. He is nearly tossed off as a freeloader when he lies and tells August, the owner and ring master, that he is a vet. The circus, having many animals, was in need of a vet so Jacob was spared.
When Jacob first lays eyes on Marlena, the wife of August, he is smitten. August likes the status of having a circus vet so Jacob is quickly taken into the inner circle. Jacob begins to spend a lot of time with August and Marlena and his desire for Marlena grows as he also learns that August has an uncontrollable temper. Marlena returns Jacob's desire but keeps him at arms-length.
August acquires an elephant, Rosie, that turns out to be the main attraction along with Marlena. Jacob learns how to control Rosie by speaking Polish to her. Marlena begins to train with Rosie much as Esther Williams did in The Big Show. The angle of the camera in many shots makes Rosie look huge.
Life in the depression era was tough. Even the circus was affected but the film shows how life in the circus was filled with never ending activity. When the circus had financial difficulties, August would solve them by throwing workers off of the train while they were moving so that he did not have to pay them. Sometimes they survived and sometimes they did not. This activity was done in the dark of night which made the lighting quite important. They did a nice job with the lighting and shadows on the train.
Going after what he wanted, Jacob continues to spend time with Marlena. What follows is wrapped in adventure, drama, romance and death.
Jacob sets out for a new town and jumps a train, never suspecting that his life was about to change forever. Following the theme of this film, Jacob quickly learns that you have to go after what you want. The train turns out to be a circus train. He is nearly tossed off as a freeloader when he lies and tells August, the owner and ring master, that he is a vet. The circus, having many animals, was in need of a vet so Jacob was spared.
When Jacob first lays eyes on Marlena, the wife of August, he is smitten. August likes the status of having a circus vet so Jacob is quickly taken into the inner circle. Jacob begins to spend a lot of time with August and Marlena and his desire for Marlena grows as he also learns that August has an uncontrollable temper. Marlena returns Jacob's desire but keeps him at arms-length.
August acquires an elephant, Rosie, that turns out to be the main attraction along with Marlena. Jacob learns how to control Rosie by speaking Polish to her. Marlena begins to train with Rosie much as Esther Williams did in The Big Show. The angle of the camera in many shots makes Rosie look huge.
Life in the depression era was tough. Even the circus was affected but the film shows how life in the circus was filled with never ending activity. When the circus had financial difficulties, August would solve them by throwing workers off of the train while they were moving so that he did not have to pay them. Sometimes they survived and sometimes they did not. This activity was done in the dark of night which made the lighting quite important. They did a nice job with the lighting and shadows on the train.
Going after what he wanted, Jacob continues to spend time with Marlena. What follows is wrapped in adventure, drama, romance and death.