Side Show (1981)

A teenage runaway joins the circus and discovers that behind the glitter and spectacle, the sideshow hides terrifying secrets.

Side Show - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Side Show
  • Release Year: 1981
  • Directed by: William Conrad
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Mystery, Thriller, TV Movie
  • Runtime: 1h 38m
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • Production Companies: Krofft Productions
  • Production Countries: United States of America
  • Alternative Titles: Asesinato bajo la lona (ES), Mord i manesjen (NO)

Side Show - Plot

A teenage boy who runs off to join the circus as a side show puppeteer stumbles onto the dark secrets of the fellow performers.

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Side Show - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • William Conrad

Main Cast

  • Lance Kerwin
  • Connie Stevens
  • William Windom
  • Barbara Rhoades
  • Albert Paulsen
  • Calvin Levels
  • Anthony Franciosa
  • Red Buttons
  • William Conrad
  • Jerry Maren

Writers

  • George Kirgo

Producers

  • George Kirgo

Side Show - FAQs

What is Side Show about?

Side Show follows a teenage boy who runs away from home to join a traveling circus, taking on the role of a side show puppeteer. Once inside, he begins uncovering disturbing secrets hidden beneath the glittering spectacle, putting himself in serious danger among the enigmatic performers.

Who directed Side Show?

Side Show was directed by William Conrad, the veteran actor and filmmaker best known for his television work. Conrad also appears in the film himself, providing the voice of the Ring Announcer, making his involvement both behind and in front of the camera.

Who are the main actors in Side Show?

Side Show stars Lance Kerwin as Nick Pallas alongside Connie Stevens, William Windom, Barbara Rhoades, Albert Paulsen, Calvin Levels, Anthony Franciosa, Red Buttons, William Conrad, and Jerry Maren, forming an eclectic ensemble of television and film veterans.

When was Side Show released?

Side Show was released on June 5, 1981. Produced by Krofft Productions and made for television, it aired in the United States and offered audiences a suspenseful look at the hidden dangers lurking within the world of a traveling circus sideshow.

Is Side Show based on a true story?

No, Side Show is not based on a true story. The film is an original fictional screenplay written by George Kirgo. Its premise of a young runaway uncovering sinister secrets within a circus sideshow is a work of dramatic imagination rather than a retelling of real events.

What genre is Side Show?

Side Show is a Mystery and Thriller TV Movie. It blends suspense with the atmospheric setting of a traveling circus sideshow, using the colorful world of performers and spectacle as a backdrop for a darker story of hidden secrets and danger uncovered by a teenage protagonist.

How long is Side Show?

Side Show has a runtime of 98 minutes, or approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes. As a made-for-television movie, it delivers a tightly paced mystery-thriller experience within a compact running time suited to its original broadcast format.

What are some movies similar to Side Show?

If you enjoyed Side Show, you might also like Kids vs. Aliens (2023) and Let Her Kill You (2023) for their genre thrills, or Creed III (2023) for its underdog spirit. Editorial picks also include The King's Avatar: For the Glory (2019) and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Asakusa Arc (2022).

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