Monica Rivers (Joan Crawford) runs a circus that is losing money. Before the opening credits we see a high wire act that ends is the death of the performer.
The police are called in to investigate. This does nothing but bolster the box office receipts for the circus. A new young man joins the circus named Frank Hawkins (Ty Hardin) and he is also a high wire performer with an act the has even more risk. Monica hires him and he quickly falls for her.
Monica's business partner and part time lover Albert Dorondo (Michael Gough) is soon killed by having a spike driven thru his head in one of the films more bizarre scenes. All of the other performers start getting nervous and gossiping, and Monica shuts them down and tells them "the show must go on".
The gorgeous Matilda (Diana Dors) suspects Monica is the killer and makes it well known to everybody. Monica and Matilda have several showdowns until Matilda is cut in half by a huge saw during a performance with her husband.
A detective who has been assigned to travel with the show is perplexed as to who is really to blame. Meanwhile Frank has convinced Monica to sell him a 25% share in the circus. Monica's daughter shows up unexpectedly much to the surprise of everyone. Angela (Judy Geeson) immediately goes to work in the circus with her mothers blessing.
The final shocking death and reveling of the murderer is interesting to say the least, and just in case you haven't seen the film I will not spoil it. The ending is a little contrived, but it in no way hampers the film.
The rest of the cast includes Robert Hardy, Geoffrey Keen and Milton Reid. I gotta admit Diana Dors was sorely underused in this film.
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