 During one scene Sebastian (Cornel Wilde) is hanging from the  trapeze by his knees. He catches Holly (Betty Hutton) then pulls her  up and kisses her. This shot took several takes and during one of  the early takes Wilde tore the ligaments in his shoulder. He managed  to make it through two more takes, then had to stop. He was unable  to use his arm for several days so De Mille shot scenes where he was  not needed.