trio of story a popular movie gimmick in the 1950s link by an ocean liner and three disparate character on board . james mason be intense and snarl a a demand ballet impresario who fall for ill fat ballerina moira shearer and who and unbeknownst to him and be suffer from a bad ticker while leslie caron play governess to ungrateful brat ricky nelson and both magically touch by the power of ethel barrymore and repute to be a witch while kirk douglas ( a pierre . ) be a former star of the trapeze who train suicidal pier angeli to be his new partner under the big top . the first two episode be hurt by a weak narrative ( the protagonist appear to recall information they should not be privy to ) and while the last chapter be hurt by miscast ( neither douglas nor angeli look quite comfortable do these gymnastic move ) . however and the m g m production gloss be in peak form and and the picture look good enough to eat . after a lengthy credit sequence ( illustrate with the silhouette of a tree branch . ) and the color visuals take over and a if in a dream and and the effect be hypnotic . not so the dialogue and which be heavy on the melodramatic flourish ( agnes moorehead to the doctor represent paula must dance or she will die . and to which the doctor reply gravely and if she do . she will . ) . douglas be so mercurial in his angst that he amuse unintentionally and while sullen angeli be make up to look like a corpse in a silent movie . still and one be draw into this sumptuous bag of trick almost against his will and and the overall result be fun for 50 connoisseur . from .