The Circus **** (1928, Charles Chaplin, Merna Kennedy, Allan Garcia) – Classic Movie Review 2534

Writer-producer-director-star Charles Chaplin’s 1928 silent movie is both funny and delightful.

Once again he takes on his familiar persona as the Tramp, hiding out from the police in a circus, where he soon falls for the charms of the attractive heroine, a bareback horse-rider (Merna Kennedy), who is being abused by her step-father, the Circus Proprietor and Ring Master (Allan Garcia, aka Al Ernest Garcia).

It is a notch down from Chaplin’s absolute best, thanks to some longueurs, hesitations and cloying sentimentality. But this is still a lovely film, and the marvellous stuff in the final reel is among his best work.

Chaplin captures the circus atmosphere of the day quite beautifully, with the help of some thrilling cinematography by Rollie Totheroh, Jack Wilson and Mark Marlott.

Also in the cast are: Harry Crocker (Rex – A Tight Rope Walker), George Davis (A Magician), Henry Bergman (An Old Clown), Tiny Sandford [aka Stanley J. Sandford] (The Head Property Man ), John Rand (An Assistant Property Man), Steve Murphy (A Pickpocket) and Betty Morrissey.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2534

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