13 Terrifying Killer Clowns

Although best remembered for being one of the most dubious best-picture Oscar winners in history, Cecil B. DeMille’s lavish 1952 film, set in the world of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, is also notable for its mysterious clown, Buttons, played by James Stewart. Throughout the film, the circus manager (Charlton Heston) and his cohorts are curious about Buttons, who refuses to remove his makeup in between shows. Buttons tends to various circus members’ ailments throughout the film, giving hints that he used to be a doctor. Eventually it is discovered that he was in fact a doctor who is wanted by the FBI for mercy-killing his wife.