based on novel   dancing   domestic violence   male female relationship   1930s   university student   animal in title   dwarf   falling in love   old age   clown   circus   abusive husband   competition   parade   no title at beginning   maniac   children   three word title   historical fiction   veterinarian   lion   animal abuse   elephant   indian american   trapeze   leaving home   older woman younger man relationship   directed by star   clown makeup   retirement home   horseback riding   circus performer   narration   determination   forty something   high school dropout   foreign language   death of parents   spelling   ringmaster   hand on butt   spelling bee   man   dog   train   love triangle   brutality   fear   woman   husband wife relationship   little boy   reporter   gun   bad temper   younger version of character   big top   circus horse   circus tent   circus vargas   elephant trainer   jealous rage   love on the run   maniac villain   show tent   traveling circus   20th century   death of mother   death of father   orphan