Trapeze

Trapeze (1956) is Carol Reed's circus drama, and you can watch online on iFILM. Under the big top in Paris, young aerialist Tino dreams of landing the triple somersault — a feat only a handful of performers have ever pulled off.

The one man who can teach him is Mike Ribble, a former trapeze star left limping and bitter after a fall. Tino coaxes him back into the ring, and the two start training a routine that could kill them. Then Lola arrives — an ambitious Italian acrobat who muscles her way into the act. She turns the boy's head while quietly setting her sights on Mike. High above a net-less floor, jealousy proves more dangerous than any missed catch.

Burt Lancaster, who worked as a real circus acrobat before Hollywood, performed many of the stunts himself, which is why the height and danger feel genuine. Alongside Tony Curtis and Gina Lollobrigida, he carries the whole picture. A sturdy golden-age melodrama about love, envy and obsession with one's craft. Stream Trapeze (1956) online on iFILM.