The Juggler (film)

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The Juggler
Directed by	Edward Dmytryk
Written by	Michael Blankfort
Starring	Kirk Douglas
Release date(s)	May 5, 1953
Running time	84 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Juggler is a 1953 drama film about a survivor of the Holocaust. It starred Kirk Douglas in the title role.

[edit] Plot summary

After World War II, a German refugee named Hans Muller (Kirk Douglas) reaches Haifa. Like many other concentration camp survivors, Hans has psychological problems, including survivor guilt. At one point, he confuses a woman and some children for his murdered family.

He eventually leaves the refugee camp and goes into the city. When questioned by a policeman, Hans becomes very agitated and attacks him, leaving him unconscious in the street. Hans flees and ends up sleeping in a park, where he is found by a teenage orphan Sabra, Yehoshua "Josh" Bresler (Joey Walsh). Hans pretends to be an eccentric American, out to see Israel firsthand. Josh offers to be his guide. During their journey, Hans reveals that he was a professional juggler; Josh persuades him to pass on his knowledge.

Meanwhile, police detective Karni (Paul Stewart) sets out to track the fugitive down.

On their tour through the countryside, Hans and Josh wander into a minefield, and Josh is injured. He is taken to a hospital at a nearby kibbutz, where it is found that he has only broken his leg. While Josh recovers, Hans becomes acquainted with one of the residents, Ya'El (Milly Vitale) and tries to make a home for himself in the community.

Karni finally tracks Hans down and tries to take him into custody. Hans panics again and threatens to kill himself, but Ya'El talks him into giving himself up.