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Big Time Operators

Original title: The Smallest Show on Earth
  • 1957
  • Approved
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
Peter Sellers, Virginia McKenna, Bernard Miles, Margaret Rutherford, and Bill Travers in Big Time Operators (1957)
Comedy

A young couple inherits a debt-ridden old movie theater, appropriately nicknamed "The Flea Pit", and the three eccentric senior citizens who work there.A young couple inherits a debt-ridden old movie theater, appropriately nicknamed "The Flea Pit", and the three eccentric senior citizens who work there.A young couple inherits a debt-ridden old movie theater, appropriately nicknamed "The Flea Pit", and the three eccentric senior citizens who work there.

  • Director
    • Basil Dearden
  • Writers
    • William Rose
    • John Eldridge
  • Stars
    • Virginia McKenna
    • Bill Travers
    • Margaret Rutherford
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    2.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Basil Dearden
    • Writers
      • William Rose
      • John Eldridge
    • Stars
      • Virginia McKenna
      • Bill Travers
      • Margaret Rutherford
    • 52User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos45

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    Top Cast55

    Virginia McKenna
    Virginia McKenna
    • Jean Spenser
    Bill Travers
    Bill Travers
    • Matt Spenser
    Margaret Rutherford
    Margaret Rutherford
    • Mrs. Fazackalee
    Peter Sellers
    Peter Sellers
    • Percy Quill
    Bernard Miles
    Bernard Miles
    • Old Tom
    Francis De Wolff
    Francis De Wolff
    • Albert Hardcastle
    • (as Francis de Wolff)
    Leslie Phillips
    Leslie Phillips
    • Robin Carter
    June Cunningham
    June Cunningham
    • Marlene Hogg
    Sidney James
    Sidney James
    • Mr. Hogg
    George Cross
    • Commissionaire
    George Cormack
    George Cormack
    • Sam Bell
    Stringer Davis
    • Fred Emmett
    Michael Corcoran
    • Taxi Driver
    The Blake Twins
    • Cast Members
    • (uncredited)
    Terry Burton
    • The First Customer
    • (uncredited)
    John Bush
    • Cast Member
    • (uncredited)
    Ted Carroll
    Ted Carroll
    • Bijou Cinema Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmy Charters
    • Bijou Cinema Patron
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Basil Dearden
    • Writers
      • William Rose
      • John Eldridge
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews52

    6.92.5K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Big Time Operators' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      The production insurers declined to cover Dame Margaret Rutherford, so all of her scenes were squeezed into seven days.
    • Goofs
      When the young couple arrive in "Sloughborough", in the north of England, they climb out of the taxi in front of Hammersmith underground station in London.
    • Quotes
      • Hardcastle: A nice young couple like yourself, you've no business in this business. If you'd seen your great uncle what it did for him in the end! That old battle-ax Mrs. Fazackalee! I remember when she was a wee slip of a thing, pretty as a picture - a "B" picture, mind yuh!
      • [laughs]
    • Connections
      Featured in A Bit of Scarlet (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      God Save the Queen
      (uncredited)
      trad.

    Top picks

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    Details

    • Release date
      • September 17, 1958 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die kleinste Schau der Welt
    • Filming locations
      • Christchurch Avenue, Kilburn, London, England, UK(exterior of Bijou Cinema)
    • Production companies
      • British Lion Film Corporation
      • Shepperton Studios
      • Hallmark Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 20m(80 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White

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