The Circus
Year: 1928
Film Studio: Charles Chaplin Productions, Warner Bros., MK2
Genre: Comedy, Classic
Length: 69 Min.
DirectorCharles Chaplin (1889)
WritingCharles Chaplin (1889)...Writer
ProducerCharles Chaplin (1889)
CinematographerRoland Totheroh (1890)
MusicCharles Chaplin (1889)...Composer
StarsAl Ernest Garcia (1887) as The Circus Proprietor and Ring Master
Merna Kennedy (1908) as His Step-daughter, A Circus Rider
Harry Crocker (1893) as Rex/ Disgruntled Property Man/Clown
George Davis (1889) as A Magician
Henry Bergman (1868) as An Old Clown
Tiny Sandford (1894) as The Head Property Man
John Rand (1871) as An Assistant Property Man / Clown
Steve Murphy (I) as A Pickpocket
Review A great debate has raged over the landscape of film history as to who was the greater comedian of the silent era, Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton. While I find myself on the Keaton side of the fence, I’ve always had a special fondness for Charlie Chaplin. I can remember when I was 5 years old that a television station in Boston would air Chaplin comedy shorts every Saturday morning at 6am. These shorts were comprised mainly of the two reel films he had made with the Essanay, Mutual and First National companies between 1915 and 1917. It would take another 20 years and the advent of VHS before I would finally get to see the full-length comedies he made during the twenties.
Sandwiched between
The Gold Rush in 1925 and
City Lights in 1931,
The Circus would be released in 1928 after a prolonged and difficult production phase, which would coincide with one of the most tumultuous periods in Chaplin’s life. Considered to be Chaplin’s forgotten masterpiece,
The Circus is chock full of priceless Chaplin moments, from the opening scenes at the funhouse, to the magic act, the tightrope skit and my personal favorite, the William Tell bit. Chaplin’s description of the worm in the apple is pure and simple comedic genius.
The Gold Rush may have had more memorable moments and
City Lights may have more charm and style, but to me
The Circus is comedy perfection.
Review Criterion5 Stars - The pinnacle of film perfection and excellence.
4 ½ Stars - Not quite an immortal film, yet a masterpiece in its own right.4 Stars - Historically important film, considered a classic.
3 ½ Stars - An entertaining film that’s fun or engaging to watch.
3 Stars – A good film that’s worth a Netflix venture.
2 ½ Stars - Borderline viewable.
2 Stars – A bad film that may have a moment of interest.
1 ½ Stars – Insipid, trite and sophomoric, and that's its good points.
1 Star – A film so vacuous, it will suck 2 hours from the remainder of your life.
½ Star - A gangrenous and festering pustule in the chronicles of celluloid.
