| Title: | The Circus |
| Year: | 1928 |
| Producer: | Charlie Chaplin |
| Director: | Charlie Chaplin Productions |
| Distributor: | United Artists |
| Runtime: | 75 Minutes |
| Awards: | Nominated for Best Actor (Charles Chaplin)
Nominated Best Producer of Comedy Film (Charles Chaplin)
Won Honorary Award for versatility and genius in acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus |
Actors / Actresses:
| Tramp | Charlie Chaplin |
| Circus Owner | Allan Garcia |
| Daughter | Merna Kennedy |
| Rex | Harry Crocker |
| Head Property Man | Tim Sanford |
| Pickpocket | Steve Murphy |
| Old Clown | Henry Bergman |
Summary
A pickpocket leads to a chase; a chase leads to an act; an act leads to a role in the Big Top. Charlie Chaplin, in his usual tramp role, ends up accidentaly in the circus. While there, he falls in love with the oppressed daughter of the circus owner. Although he tries to impress her, she quickly falls in love with the new tight rope walker, Rex. How will this nasty love triangle turn out? Better watch the movie.
Importance
While The Circus lacks special effects, he does do a great job using running gags. A donkey is constantly chasing Chaplin around the circus grounds. Constant physical episodes, most of accidental, also provide comedy. A running gag at the beginning of the story involves a room of mirrors, which constantly complicates the chase.
The acting in this film is superb. There seems to be a tendency to overact some of the parts in Chaplin movies. However, the normal but funny way The Circus is executed in a way that makes everything seem more normal. The film clearly deserves the two Academy Award nominations it received (best Actor, best Director: Comedy Film) and the one it did win (Honorary Award for versatility and genius in acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus).
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