Crawford plays Monica Rivers, owner of the Great Rivers Circus, which is being plagued by a series of grisly murders.  Valiantly trying to inject some glamour into this film, Crawford had costume designer Irene provide her leotard and shows off her still-good legs at sixty thereabouts. But with her beehive, bull whip, and boy-toy (Ty Hardin), the latter currying her affections to the fury of sometimes-lover/business manager Dorando(Michael Hough), it only adds to the camp, particularly when Crawford is bothering to act and boy-toy isn't. (I smell the hand of a drag queen in the writing of this one, especially when the killer spouts the immortal line, "Kill!  Kill!  Kill!"  What else?)  Horror films of varying degrees of quality were the rage in the 60's and early 70's, particularly grisly ones, so there are many close-ups of victims' faces, and all the innocuous acts (like performing poodles) are just warm-ups for the gory mishaps of the more dangerous ones to follow.




Howard Thompson in the New York Times (1968):
    [Miss Crawford] is professional as usual, and certainly the shapeliest ringmaster ever to handle a ring microphone.
 
Lawrence J. Quirk in Hollywood Screen Parade:
    Her figure is as trim as ever, her voice as warm and compelling, her legs rival Dietrich's, and her tigress' personality puts to shame most of the mewing kittens who call themselves 1968-style screen actresses. She is all over the picture, radiant, forceful, authoritative, a genuine movie star whose appeal never diminishes.



Cast overview, first billed only:
Joan Crawford
....
Monica Rivers
Ty Hardin
....
Frank Hawkins
Diana Dors
....
Matilda
Michael Gough
....
Dorando
Judy Geeson
....
Angela Rivers
Robert Hardy
....
Supt. Brooks
Geoffrey Keen
....
Commissioner Dalby
Sydney Tafler
....
Harrison Liston
George Claydon
....
Bruno
Philip Madoc
....
Lazlo
Ambrosine Phillpotts
....
Miss Burrows
Thomas Cimarro
....
Gaspar
Peter Burton
....
Gustavo
Golda Casimir
....
Bearded Lady
Ted Lune
....
Skeleton Man
  (more)

Also Known As:
Circus of Blood (UK) (working title)
Circus of Terror
Runtime: 96 min
Country: UK
Language: English
Color: Color (Technicolor)
Sound Mix: Mono