marching in behind the flags of the nations whose citizens are in the show: the United States, Great Britain, France, Imperial Germany, Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden, Italy, and many more. Partway through Grand Parade, a fire breaks out in Wardrobe and spreads to the Big Top. Fast action by Lili, Matt, Steve, Toni, Cap and Aldo prevents injury to the circus performers and manages to save about half of the tent from the flames. The one positive thing to come out of the fire is a rapprochement between Toni and Lili. Matt somehow obtains permission from the Emperor to set up the circus in the grounds of the Imperial Palace. The show is a smash success, with a new act headlining: Lili and Toni Alfredo performing a swing-over routine fifty feet in the air. Ultimately Matt, Lili, Toni, and Matt's new partner and Toni's new fiancé, Steve, are shown taking bows to the applause of the people and the Crown. Cast John Wayne as Matt Masters Rita Hayworth as Lili Alfredo Claudia Cardinale as Toni Alfredo Lloyd Nolan as Cap Carson Richard Conte as Aldo Alfredo John Smith as Steve McCabe Katharyna as Giovana Katherine Kath as Hilda Wanda Rotha as Mrs. Schuman Kay Walsh as Flo Hunt Francois Calepides as Ringmaster Margaret MacGrath as Anna Miles Malleson as Billy Hennigan José María Caffarel as Barcelona's Mayor Robert Cunningham as Ringmaster Hans Dantes as Emile Schuman Moustache as Bartender (uncredited) George Tyne as Madrid Bartender (uncredited) Víctor Israel as unknown (uncredited) Production Development The initial idea for the film was conceived by screenwriter Bernard Gordon. In 1961, Philip Yordan recommended to Gordon that they should produce another large-scale film, in which Gordon suggested a circus film set in Europe. Writing in his autobiography, Gordon centralized on the idea of "the great circus moving all around the world wherever a colorful site could lend itself to a unique and daring stunt." While under contract to produce another film for Samuel Bronston, director Nicholas Ray agreed to the idea and worked with Gordon on a treatment in Paris. In August 1962, Paramount Pictures announced they would be co-producing a circus movie in collaboration with Bronston, which would be tentatively titled Those Were the Days and would be set in the early part of the 20th century. John Wayne was attached to star and the project was be directed by Nicholas Ray. Filming was