The Circus (1928)

100% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
92% of users liked it
(5,945 ratings)

The Circus is generally considered to be a lesser Charlie Chaplin effort, coming as it does between two unquestioned masterpieces, The Gold Rush (1925) and City Lights (1931). To be sure, the film is not one of Chaplin's best, but it has a lot going for it. Director Chaplin casts star Chaplin in his… More The Circus is generally considered to be a lesser Charlie Chaplin effort, coming as it does between two unquestioned masterpieces, The Gold Rush (1925) and City Lights (1931). To be sure, the film is not one of Chaplin's best, but it has a lot going for it. Director Chaplin casts star Chaplin in his traditional "Little Tramp" role, who when first we see him is on the lam from the law. He takes refuge under the tent of a failing circus. Unintentionally, Charlie disrupts the show's big clown act, and the crowd roars. The ringmaster decides to hire Charlie as a clown, building the whole circus around him. Charlie has many an adventure and close shave while performing under the Big Top, the best of which involves a tightrope, a broken support wire, and a playful monkey. The standard Chaplin pathos rears its head when Charlie falls in love with pretty tightrope walker Merna Kennedy. When sweet Merna chooses handsome Harry Crocker, Charlie is left alone once more--but, with a characteristic shrug, he shuffles into the horizon and onto his next adventure. The Circus has several gaping logic holes which tend to pull the film down (we're supposed to believe, for example, that Charlie is unaware that he's a sensation as a clown, even after several weeks of performing before appreciative audiences), but the film contains several excellent setpieces, including a Hall of Mirrors sequence which anticipates Orson Welles' more serious Lady From Shanghai climax by twenty years. The Circus won Chaplin a special Oscar in 1928, then lay unseen for forty-two years; it was reissued in 1970, with a new musical score by Chaplin himself (who can be heard singing the theme song in the opening scenes). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 15 min.
Directed By: Charles Chaplin
Written By: Charles Chaplin
Genres: Action & Adventure, Classics, Comedy, Drama, Kids & Family, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 6, 1928 Limited
On DVD: Feb 8, 2000
Studio: Allied Artists

Critic Reviews

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
It's a brilliant combination of light and darkness, tenderness and violence and, yes, laughter and tears.
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice
Innovative and timelessly hilarious.
Adam Lippe, Examiner.com
It is the political subtext and discussion of capitalism vs. communism that is the saving grace of The Circus, since the surface material, comprised of frantic slapstick mixed with maudlin and melodrama, is very standard for Chaplin.
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
sort of B-grade alternative to City Lights
Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York
There's an edge to The Circus that suggests a man gazing deep into the void, laughing at the darkness and urging us to do the same.
Christian Blauvelt, Slant Magazine
The Circus may be the film that most definitively silences critics who claim that Charlie Chaplin's movies aren't cinematic.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
In some ways The Circus is Chaplin's Stardust Memories, his reflexive self-observation in which Woody Allen's line, 'We like your earlier, funny movies,' flashes subliminally among the frames.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
The restored imagery is free of scratches and blemishes.... This is one of the less impressive transfers in The Chaplin Collection, yet consider that only as a comparison to the extraordinary quality exhibited throughout the set overall.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Chaplin's slapstick comedy worked to great effect.
Gabe Leibowitz, eCinemaCenter.com
Chaplin's most underrated, consistently hysterical, and imaginative picture.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Receiving his first Best Actor Oscar nomination, Chaplin is brilliant in this slapstick comedy, set in a milieu that fits him like a glove.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
It's a beautiful film and perhaps more personal that anyone might have suspected at the time.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
most overlooked film . . . contains some of the Tramp's best comic moments

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

First L

The Circus is quite a charming little film from the silent era, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. He of course plays the "little tramp" character who, while being chased by the cops, stumbles into the middle of a three ring circus where his antics draw the attention… More
The Circus is quite a charming little film from the silent era, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. He of course plays the "little tramp" character who, while being chased by the cops, stumbles into the middle of a three ring circus where his antics draw the attention (and laughs), of the audience. The crowd's reaction does not escape the attention of circus proprietor and Ring Master (Al Garcia), who attempts to hire the tramp as a clown. The little tramp can only be funny spontaneously, and all the ring master's attempts at training him to be a clown fail, so the boss hires the tramp on as a janitor, whom he finds surreptitious ways to put out in front of the crowd at showtime. Of course the ring master has a beautiful step-daughter (Merna Kennedy), who is kowtowed to the ring master after years of abuse. The tramp falls in love with her and tries to win her affection. It's said that after choosing the circus location, Chaplin largely improvised the film, which is probably why the plot is so basic. However, films from this era (especially comedies) are rarely plot-heavy, relying on different situations and tableaus rather than in depth story-telling. The Circus does deviate in the end from other standard stories, and it's final scene is quite effective. Overall, a sweet comedy that lets just the tiniest bit of real life peek through the movie screen.
AJ V

This movie is really fun, cute, and humorous, I enjoyed it, and I recommend it.
Stella D

i love the circus! hilarious! it's between this and city lights for my fave chaplin so far. it's amazing how funny they still are after 80 years
Ken S

Probably the funniest of Chaplin's films (but not the best) I've seen
Dillon L

Good story with funny slapstick and a touching, atypical ending. Not as good as The Kid, The Gold Rush, City Lights or Modern Times, but still a worthy entry in the 'Tramp' series.
Matthew Y

The Circus is the black sheep of the Tramp films and I'll never understand why. The little fellow has rarely been funnier than on the high wire with the monkey's and it has an emotional and melancholy ending that still holds up. Not the best place for a Chaplin… More
The Circus is the black sheep of the Tramp films and I'll never understand why. The little fellow has rarely been funnier than on the high wire with the monkey's and it has an emotional and melancholy ending that still holds up. Not the best place for a Chaplin introduction but for fans its still a must see.
Chris B

An underrated Chaplin film probably because it was made between two of his best, The Gold Rush (1925) and City Lights (1931) but is still a great slapstick comedy. It has equal doses of laughter and serious themes and combines them into another heartfelt and hilarious as well as… More
An underrated Chaplin film probably because it was made between two of his best, The Gold Rush (1925) and City Lights (1931) but is still a great slapstick comedy. It has equal doses of laughter and serious themes and combines them into another heartfelt and hilarious as well as timeless film! Chaplin is sheer pleasure to watch!
Jessica v

The definition of a "good-er", as far as I'm concerned. Great character work, and the Tramp's first slips and trips are genius. The storyline tends to drag a bit near the end, but the finale is wonderfully poignant and realistic.
Ivan D

Charlie Chaplin has always incorporated tender humanity to his immortal tramp character, and here in "The Circus" he has used this tramp's trait to turn the story around. The Tramp sacrificed many things throughout his historic cinema stay, and here, this time, he gave… More
Charlie Chaplin has always incorporated tender humanity to his immortal tramp character, and here in "The Circus" he has used this tramp's trait to turn the story around. The Tramp sacrificed many things throughout his historic cinema stay, and here, this time, he gave up love for the better. The ending was sad and symbolic, maybe the most lonely Tramp ending.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

Charles Chaplin
as The Tramp
Allan Garcia
as Circus Owner
Henry Bergman
as The Old Clown

Merna Kennedy
as Equestrian
Harry Crocker
as Rex the Tightrope Walker
John Rand
as Assistant Property Man

See full cast