Director: Charles Chaplin
Screenplay:" "
Music: " "
Editing: " "
Starring: Charles Chaplin (Tramp), Merna Kennedy (Circus Rider), Henry Bergman (Old Clown), Harry Crocker (Rex the tightrope walker), Allan Garcia (Ringmaster), Stanley "aka Tiny" Sandford (Troupes Foreman), George Davis (Magician), Betty Morrissey (Magicians Assistant), John Rand (Clown), Steve Murphy (Pickpocket).
72 min
The tramp gets himself into trouble with the law while visiting the circus. A pickpocket slips his stolen goods into the tramps pocket, the tramp then gets caught with the loot. Being chased by the cops he runs into the main circus act and turns a heckling and bored audience into hysteric’s. He is then hired by the circus’s asshole of a ringmaster and the tramp becomes the circus’s prize act, little does he know it, because he is unconscious of how funny he is. The ringmaster makes sure that the Tramp doesn’t know he’s the one turning out the profits. The tramp falls in love with the ringmaster’s daughter Merna, the circus rider who is physically abused by her tyrant of a father.
I LOVE this movie it’s laugh out loud funny hasn’t dated at all, it’s touching, even suspenseful and makes you remember why Charlie Chaplin is one of the three kings of silent comedy. His blend of tragedy and comedy makes you really connect and sympathize with the lovable tramp; it’s really a wonder why this little beaut is so overshadowed by his other works, too good to miss. I haven't seen that many of his features, The Kid is my favourite of his that I have seen, City Lights is also in there too, and now this. Took me awhile to see his movie's, after my sister brought me a City Lights novelty mug a few christmas's ago I felt obliged to watch it, after all I couldn't have a novelty cup for a movie I hadn't seen, geez that would be what i call madness, I am now thankful for that mug lol thanks Amy. Like I'm glad I'm doing this 1928 series I probably wouldn't of got around to viewing The Circus yet, if I hadn't decided on watching alot of movie's from this great year.
Watching the film you wouldn't know it as its not lacking anything and its rich in everything but Charlie was in personal turmoil, his scandalous divorce was public news, this and troubles with production, the studio actually burnt down and the rest, this all lead up to his nervous breakdown. But still never quitting he evantually released a great picture, with his name on almost every credit, and he got rewarded with an Academy Award, a special one, only ever given once for acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus. And his score is awesome as well, I was toe tapping away, re-released in 1969, Chaplin at 80 years old sings the opening title song which i think is the one that features on the dvd. He was a one man show.
6 comments:
This is definitely one of my fav Chaplin films. Probably right behind "The Great Dictator" and "Modern Times." I love the scene where Chaplin is pretending to by part of the coo coo clock figurine. I remember laughing out loud throughout the first time I saw this one.
yes that scene was amazing, so clever. such a great film.
This movie is full of great scenes, that one of the clock is really funny, I also remember when he gets inside the lion cage and the one in the tightrope :D
The relationship with the girl and the way the film ends make this one my favourite of his films. It feels very real.
Katie-Bar-The-Door and I got to see this one at the AFI Silver on the big screen a couple of months ago. That it isn't routinely mentioned as one of Chaplin's best movies is more of a testament to how great his movies were than a knock on The Circus -- it's a great movie. The hall of mirrors scene, the clock bit, and the high-wire act with the runaway monkeys are all brilliant.
I'm really enjoying this series on the movies of 1928 ...
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Just seeing Charlie Chaplin perform high wire acts in a full suit makes the film for me.
so awesome to hear its among everybody's faves! every scene in this offers something, another scene is when when the tramp eats the baby's hot dog, flipin hilarious and when he's running around with foam on his face and he doesn't now it, lol then Merna kindly points it out :)
Mythical Monkey: you are lucky to see it on the big screen, its cool watching silent comedy at the movies, everyone laughing together so great, cos you wonder if people still find some silent comedy antics funny its good to know it hasn't died.
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