The Greatest Showman released in 2017 took the world by storm, it spent 219 days in chimes after its initial release, make $435 million worldwide and the soundtrack has been certified platinum twice! The story follows the life of PT Barnum and how the circus came to be. It stars Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Zendaya. The scene I will be looking at is when PT hosts famous European singer Jenny Lind’s first show in America. PT is looked down on in the high community and this show is his way to try and become one of them.
Unfortunately I was unable to find the full scene to link, but if you have a copy if the film don’t hesitate to follow along, if not I have linked a video of the actual performance.
Establishing shot that establishes where the scene is taking place, the audience can see that the scene is beginning at the show that PT has set up for Jenny Lind. It shows that it is very busy with people who are eager to see the show. The costume contrast with the people who usually go to the circus.
PT and Charity enter from the right side of the screen. A medium shot is used which still allows us to see whats happening in the background as well as showing PT’s face to see that he looking about to see how many people are attending. Costume again should be noticed again here as charity is the only one who is visible in light colours e.g. her baby pink shawl.
Charity asks if he is happy, he states he will be if this works, this shows that he will always strive for more success.
P.O.V. shot gives a quick glimpse to the audience to show many people taking their seats are there and again contrast with the audience from his usual shows.
It then cuts to a shot of Philip and PT talking, they are looking out of the curtain with their backs to the camera, tis makes the audience feel as though they are there and part of the conversation.
The camera then cuts to the same shot but is closer in and we can now see more of their faces. Philip is talking to PT but PT is still looking out the curtain at the crowd and not really into the conversation this shows his main focus is on what makes him more successful. The lighting also makes Philip in the darkness and PT in the light, this almost poses as the limelight and as Philip is only an investor and sometime kept in the dark with PT’s plans and literally here.
Once PT realises that Philip is talking about the other circus acts arriving PT turns and is in the darkness with Philip, this again reflects the underlying conversation that this could be something that takes him out of the limelight and puts him back in the darkness.
Close up on Philips face shows his concerns as PT’s turns to look back at the stage (his priority).
This cuts to a long shot of PT being told the act is ready and PT and runs totally disregarding Philip and showing his priority.
Close up on Philip shows he is concerned.
Cuts to a medium shot of the conductor, this again helps to set the scene of the sophisticated orchestra, it also shows how full the audience is and how much of a big event this is.
The audience also get to see PT’s family in the very good seats,
It then cuts to a wide shot of the circus cast this contrast with PT’s family as they are in their costumes all huddles together in the darkness, hidden away form people, this shows how different they are treated mainly by society.
Cuts back to a medium shot of the conductor and then back to close ups in the pit of the music and some interments to indicate the show is about to start.
A wide shot of the theatre and the curtain begins to open, it also feels like a P.O.V. shot to make the audience feel that they are show as an audience member in the theatre.
Then PT walks out and from the camera P.O.V. he is very small, this is a metaphor for how he is seen in the eyes of the audience who don’t feel he is good enough to be part f their society. The noise from the audience confirms this.
The camera goes to a medium shot of PT as he turns to his wife.
The camera then turns to a medium/ P.O.V. shot of his wife nodding her head in encouragement. This shows more of her character and how supportive she is of his dreams and goals.
The camera cuts back to a wide shot of PT, him now slightly to the left but is now smiling and is more confident. This is a little nod that his family are his source that keeps him, the great PT Barnum going even when he is unsure and his confidence low.
A medium shot of PT family listening to him, they are slightly to the right, this helps the audience to notice the couple behind them who are talking about PT.
The camera then shift to focus on Charity and their eldest daughter, we can she that she heard and is very hurt. This gives the audience another insight to what the people in the audience are like as they give there opinion and don’t care who hears and think they are superior.
The camera cuts back to PT who is still confidently talking it is in a P.O.V. shot of his family, we can see his whole body and his stance that radiates confidence as he is giving his speech.
He states “ This isn’t just another sideshow novelty”. It cuts to a close up of Anne and Lettie that shows the hurt in their faces as they realise they are the sideshow novelty that is being spoken about. They were just beginning to be treated like real people and this line indicates they are in-fact not and just part of a show.
Wide shot of PT now in the centre standing confident. All eyes on him. Panning camera as he talks. This is a metaphor for all the eyes in the theatre watching him.
High angle, POV again makes the audience fell again that they are part of the audience watching the show.
Medium shot of his family to show there expressions, Charity is very concerned there is an underlying idea that Charity puts on a brace face to support PT and his crazy idea but just wants a normal life. She is very nervous for him. His eldest daughter also has a worried look on her face that indicates she is like her mother and beginning to worry although not to the same extent, Their youngest daughter is very excited and happy. This is almost showing how Charity has progressed as a person being with PT and how the worrying increases.
The camera changes to a POV of the curtain opening.
Low angle, at the back, grand reveal. As the music begins the light hits, she is in white and it is very angelic.
Close up of her face, she is looking around the room at the audience. She looks very innocent and naive. The colours are very basic and too the point. The background is black, she is in white with red lip and hair.
Medium shot of PT in the wings shows him sighing and looking concerned. This gives the audience more of an isight to his character and does show that his big confident self is in-fact just an act.
Cuts to his wife who is the same she puts on a brave face for her children, which is unlike PT who is putting a brave face on for the whole world.
Cuts to a wide shot/POV with a panning camera, again like all the eyes in the audience are on her. The colours are still very basic so that she is the only thing that stands out on stage.
POV side of stage, she is just off to the right of the screen. This site that everyone even in the theatre wings are focused on her.
“You set off a dream in me” – Looks at PT and is singing to him, this hints at a later story line that leads.
We see PT smiling he is happy, this contrasts with the shot of Charity we see who seems worried.
Wide of the circus as they know they are going to be left behind and be an after thought
Medium of Philip and Anne “Take my hand” he glances at her, underlying communication between them, close up on hand and faces.
Close up on her to show she has gained confidence and is determination.
Wide shot shows the whole place ins mesmerised by her, grand scale.
Quick cut to a medium shot goes with the beat (for close up to medium) she is part of the song
“These hands could hold the world” cuts again to Philip and Anne who are watching the show.
Close up hold hands, hidden relationship
Close up of their faces as they gave gone from serious to slight smiles.
Shot of PT’s family even the children are mesmerised. We can see that the youngest daughter has binoculars
The next shot is side of stage and POV of this character. Can see in the background that PT hasn’t taken his eyes off of her.
She is more confident, moving and into the music.
Again another over the shoulder shot to show she still has everyones attention
A medium shot of PT smiling then looks at the audience, he releases what success he could gain from this.
Shows the show critic, when he realises he likes her he knows how far it can go. The close up on his face shows this.
This is a demonstration how her voice can reach and how big the room is with the wide shot getting wider with the notes hitting.
Medium/Close up of Philip and Anne , notice his eyes cast to the right
Medium shot of the people chatting and looking at him, does close up of all reactions to the scenario.
“Never be enough” hand lets go,
Close up on Annes face to show hurt confusion. Philip looks forward, Anne looks at him, hurt
“Never be enough for me” walks away as there is no reality of them being together.
Side shot shows his family blurred out in the background this is a hint that they are going to be put to the back of his mind and replaced by Jenny Lind due to the success she can bring him. The family then come into focus
Family come into focus .
It then cuts to a close up on Charity
We can see her eyes are darting between Jenny Lind and her husband with a worried look on her face, her facial expression and stance contrast with Jenny Lind.
Cuts back to charity as she knows that Jenny Lind will bring PT success and her and there family are going to be left behind.
Cuts back to Jenny Lind and as the music comes to a climax, the shots get wider this shows her voice filling the room.
As the music stops the shot replicated the behind shot of her that was shown when the curtain first rose.
Close up shows her less confident this gives us an insight to her character as she is a different person on stage and once she is sign she feels like she can do anything.
Close up on Charity and Phillip as they know that this won’t end well contrast with PT who is more than happy with how the performance has gone and confirms the great things that will follow.
I hope you enjoyed my take on one of my favourite scenes and let me know if you agree or disagree with any of my thoughts
Cinema & Chapters by Peggy 