The Circus (silent film)
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The Circus is a 1928 silent film which finds Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp character being chased by a policeman at a circus. The ringmaster thinks his antics are hysterical, and hires him, but finds that The Tramp can't be funny on purpose, so the ringmaster makes him a janitor who always happens to be in the ring when things start happening. It stars Chaplin, Al Ernest Garcia, Merna Kennedy, Harry Crocker, George Davis and Henry Bergman.
The movie was written by Chaplin and Joseph Plunkett (prologue, uncredited) and directed by Chaplin. It became the 7th highest grossing silent film in cinema history taking in more than $3.8 million dollars in 1928.
The production of the film was the most difficult experience in Chaplin's career. Numerous problems and delays occurred (including a studio fire), and the filming was interrupted for almost a year by both Chaplin's bitter divorce from his second wife Lita Grey and claims of back taxes by the Internal Revenue Service.
It was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor (Charlie Chaplin). In addition, the Academy awarded Chaplin a Special Award "For versatility and genius in acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus." Chaplin reissued the film in 1970 with a new musical score.
External link
| The Films of Charlie Chaplin | |
|---|---|
| The Chaplin-Mutual Comedies: The Floorwalker, The Fireman, The Vagabond, One A.M., The Count, The Pawnshop, Behind the Screen, The Rink, Easy Street, The Cure, The Immigrant, The Adventurer | |
| Feature-length films: Tillie's Punctured Romance, The Kid, A Woman of Paris, The Gold Rush, The Circus, City Lights, Modern Times, The Great Dictator, Monsieur Verdoux, Limelight, A King in New York, A Countess from Hong Kong | |
| Other films: The New Janitor, Chaplin | |
| Stock company: Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Albert Austin, Henry Bergman | |
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