Max Catto's novel 'The Killing Frost' was adapted by Liam O'Brien and written for the screen by James R Webb. Reed said they followed very little of the book. He made the film to work with Lancaster, who was then in the producer's role. It made more money than any of Reed's films - it covered its cost from Japan ticket sales alone!
Its romantic triangle takes place in Paris's Cirque d'Hiver and high above the circus audience as Lancaster and Tony Curtis are both manipulated by Gina Lollabrigida (her second American film).
Gina only died last January, aged 95. In the seventies she concentrated more on photography.
It's still thrilling and tense, and you can't help notice that a lot of this high up stuff genuinely features the three stars - Lancaster actually worked as an acrobat when young, and Curtis was the type of kid to clamber up the elevated section of the subway. How they tempted Mrs L up there I don't... a large paycheck, no doubt.
Malcolm Arnold's music is an asset. Bert Bates is the supervising editor. Robert Krasker's fearless team photographed it.
With Katy Jurado (High Noon, Under the Volcano), Thomas Gomez, Johnny Puleo, Sid James.
When not up in the air, the frame is constantly packed with background circus action.
Curtis claims he had the suite under Lancaster's at the George Cinq and would climb up and surprise him for a drink. He was loaned out from Universal to United Artists for the picture and made him a much bigger star.
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