When the Circus Came to Town is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 television movie

Television movie

A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...

 that originally aired on CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...

 as a "movie of the week" on January 20, 1981. Directed by Boris Sagal

Boris Sagal

Boris Sagal was a Ukrainian-born American television and film director.-Early life and career:Born in Yekaterinoslav, Soviet Union, Sagal emigrated to the United States where he attended the Yale School of Drama. Sagal's many TV credits include directing episodes of The Twilight Zone, "T.H.E...

, the film stars Elizabeth Montgomery

Elizabeth Montgomery

Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery was an American film and television actress whose career spanned five decades. She is perhaps best remembered for her roles as Samantha Stephens in Bewitched, as Ellen Harrod in A Case of Rape and as Lizzie Borden in The Legend of Lizzie Borden.-Early life:Born in Los...

, Christopher Plummer

Christopher Plummer

Arthur Christopher Orne Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. He made his film debut in 1957's Stage Struck, and notable early film performances include Night of the Generals, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Man Who Would Be King.In a career that spans over five...

, and Eileen Brennan

Eileen Brennan

Eileen Brennan is an American actress of film, television, and theater. Brennan is best known for her role as Doreen Lewis in Private Benjamin for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She reprised the role in the TV adaption and won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy...

.

Story

When the Circus Came to Town chronicles the life of Mary Lynn (Montgomery), a woman nearing middle age living in a small town. When the circus comes through town, she realizes nothing will ever change unless she does something different, so leaves her boring sheltered life to run away and join the circus. While adapting to her new life, she finds herself challenged, and in the end, happy with her new life.

Cast

• Elizabeth Montgomery
  Elizabeth Montgomery
  Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery was an American film and television actress whose career spanned five decades. She is perhaps best remembered for her roles as Samantha Stephens in Bewitched, as Ellen Harrod in A Case of Rape and as Lizzie Borden in The Legend of Lizzie Borden.-Early life:Born in Los...
  
   . . . Mary Flynn
• Christopher Plummer
  Christopher Plummer
  Arthur Christopher Orne Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. He made his film debut in 1957's Stage Struck, and notable early film performances include Night of the Generals, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Man Who Would Be King.In a career that spans over five...
  
   . . . Duke Royal
• Eileen Brennan
  Eileen Brennan
  Eileen Brennan is an American actress of film, television, and theater. Brennan is best known for her role as Doreen Lewis in Private Benjamin for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She reprised the role in the TV adaption and won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy...
  
   . . . Jessy
• Gretchen Wyler
  Gretchen Wyler
  Gretchen Wyler was an American actress and founder of the Genesis Awards for animal protection.-Early life:...
  
   . . . Olivia Probaska
• Anne Shropshire . . . Aunt Helen
• Tommy Madden . . . Louie
• Timothy Hill . . . Schuller
• Russell Saunders . . . Ivan Probashka
• Mark Yerkes . . . Sergei Probashka
• Bob Yerkes . . . Georgi Probashka
• J. Don Ferguson . . . Andre Probashka
• Anne Haney
  Anne Haney
  Anne Haney was an American actress, perhaps best known for her roles as social worker Mrs. Sellner in Mrs. Doubtfire, Greta the secretary in Liar Liar, and for her unique, low-octave voice.-Career:...
  
   . . . Blossom
• George Ellis . . . Rodriguez
• Don Devendorf . . . Motel Clerk
• Charles Lawlor . . . Redneck
• Nicholas Warf . . . Juggler

Crew

• Directed by: Boris Sagal
  Boris Sagal
  Boris Sagal was a Ukrainian-born American television and film director.-Early life and career:Born in Yekaterinoslav, Soviet Union, Sagal emigrated to the United States where he attended the Yale School of Drama. Sagal's many TV credits include directing episodes of The Twilight Zone, "T.H.E...
  
  
• Second Assistant Director: Stephen A. Glanzrock
• Written by: Larry Grusin
• Executive Producer: Barry Krost
• Producer: Robert Halmi, Sr.
• Associate Producer: Robert Halmi, Jr.
• Original Music: Charles Gross
  Charles Gross
  Charles "Charlie" Gross is an American Film and TV composer, living in New York City.Gross was educated at Harvard University , the New England Conservatory and Mills College and a student of Darius Milhaud. He arranged for the West Point Band for three years, and served in the US Army...
  
  
• Orchestrator: Gary Anderson
  Gary M. Anderson
  Gary Michael Anderson is an American musician.He attended Berklee School of Music as a Down Beat Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient, and went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude...
  
  
• Cinematography: Michel Hugo
  Michel Hugo
  Michael Hugo was a French-born American cinematographer and academic. His film and television credits included Dynasty, Melrose Place and Mission: Impossible. In 2001, Hugo became a professor at the film department of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.Hugo was born in Paris on 13 Jan 1930...
  
  
• Film Editor: Murray Solomon
• Production Design: Robert Gundlach
  Robert Gundlach
  Robert W. Gundlach was an American physicist. He is most noted for his prolific contributions to the field of xerography, specifically the development of the modern photocopier. Gundlach helped transform the Haloid Company, a small photographic firm, into the thriving Xerox Corporation...
  
  
• Choreographer: Marge Champion Sagal
  Marge Champion
  Marge Champion is an American dancer, choreographer, and pedagogue. In addition, she also worked in film and appeared in a number of television variety shows.-Early years:...
  
  
• Dialogue Coach: Marge Champion Sagal