IMDb > The Circus (1928)
The Circus
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The Circus (1928) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   10,328 votes »
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Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Charles Chaplin
Writer:
Charles Chaplin (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Circus on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1928 (Turkey) See more »
Genre:
Comedy | Romance See more »
Tagline:
The Circus is Here! See more »
Plot:
The Tramp finds work and the girl of his dreams at a circus. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 win See more »
NewsDesk:
(43 articles)
Green Screen Lab: Diary 2
 (From DearCinema.com. 14 August 2012, 1:15 AM, PDT)
Green Screen Lab: Day 2
 (From DearCinema.com. 13 August 2012, 12:10 AM, PDT)
Five silent films to shout about
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 2 March 2012, 6:32 AM, PST)
User Reviews:
A terrific comedy, despite what some may say... See more (169 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Al Ernest Garcia ... The Circus Proprietor and Ring Master (as Allan Garcia)
Merna Kennedy ... Merna, His Step-Daughter - A Circus Rider
Harry Crocker ... Rex - A Tight Rope Walker
George Davis ... Professor Bosco - A Magician
Henry Bergman ... An Old Clown
Tiny Sandford ... The Head Property Man (as Stanley J. Sandford)
John Rand ... An Assistant Property Man
Steve Murphy ... A Pickpocket

Charles Chaplin ... A Tramp (as Charlie Chaplin)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Albert Austin ... Clown (uncredited)
Charles A. Bachman ... Cop (uncredited)
Eugene Barry ... Cop (uncredited)
Jack Bernard ... Man in Circus Audience (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone ... Cop (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin ... Clown (uncredited)
Bill Knight ... Cop (uncredited)
Toraichi Kono ... Man in Circus Audience (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
H.L. Kyle ... Man in Circus Audience (uncredited)
Betty Morrissey ... The Vanishing Lady (uncredited)
L.J. O'Connor ... Cop (uncredited)
Jack P. Pierce ... Man Operating Ropes (uncredited)
Hugh Saxon ... Man in Circus Audience (uncredited)
Doc Stone ... The Prizefighter (uncredited)
Armand Triller ... Clown (uncredited)
Max Tyron ... Pickpocket Victim (uncredited)
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Directed by
Charles Chaplin  (as Charlie Chaplin)
 
Writing credits
Charles Chaplin (written by) (as Charlie Chaplin)

Produced by
Charles Chaplin .... producer (as Charlie Chaplin)
 
Original Music by
Charles Chaplin (1969) (as Charlie Chaplin)
 
Cinematography by
Roland Totheroh (photography) (as Rollie H. Totheroh)
 
Film Editing by
Charles Chaplin (uncredited)
 
Casting by
Al Ernest Garcia (uncredited)
 
Art Direction by
Charles D. Hall (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry Crocker .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Marlatt .... camera operator (uncredited)
Jack Wilson .... camera operator (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Charles Chaplin .... title music: sung by (1969 print) (as Charlie Chaplin)
Eric James .... musical associate (1969 version)
Lambert Williamson .... music arranger (1969 version)
Joseph Plunkett .... conductor: prologue (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Toraichi Kono .... driver: Mr. Chaplin (uncredited)
 
Other crew
William E. Hinckley .... laboratory supervisor
Tony Campanaro .... monkey trainer (uncredited)
Harry Crocker .... unit publicist (uncredited)
Henry East .... dog trainer (uncredited)
Charles Gay .... lion trainer (uncredited)
Della Steele .... script supervisor (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
71 min
Country:
USA
Language:
None
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Silent
Certification:
Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Denmark:A (2003) | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:Unrated | Spain:T | Germany:6 | USA:G (re-release: 1969) | Finland:K-3 (re-rating) (2001) | Finland:S
Filming Locations:
Chaplin Studios - 1416 N. La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USASee more »
Company:
Charles Chaplin ProductionsSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Charles Chaplin's studio burnt down during production. This, combined with a number of major personal issues that arose during production, led to Chaplin's nervous breakdown (he spent time recovering in New York after about two-thirds of the film had been shot).See more »
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: After the tramp washes the shaving cream from his face, he dries himself with a towel but the towel never touches his face (this is probably so that it won't mess up the stage makeup).See more »
Quotes:
A Tramp:If you strike that girl, I'll quit! And what's more, I want what I'm worth.
The Circus Proprietor and Ring Master:I'll give you fifty dollars a week.
[the tramp shakes his head]
The Circus Proprietor and Ring Master:Sixty!
[the tramp mouths 'no']
The Circus Proprietor and Ring Master:I'll double it!
A Tramp:Nothing less than a hundred.
[the Circus Proprietor agrees and they shake on it]
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Brief Film Reviews: My DVD/Blu-Ray Collection" (2010)See more »
Soundtrack:
Swing Little GirlSee more »

FAQ

Is it true that there is a woman talking on a cell phone in this movie?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
27 out of 33 people found the following review useful.
A terrific comedy, despite what some may say..., 2 September 2003
Author: venusadonis1 (venusadonis1@hotmail.com) from Los Angeles, CA

Do not be mislead by the ne'er do wells who claim this movie as Chaplin's weakest.

The plot is not intricate, but Charlie doesn't need an intricate plot to make us laugh out loud. "The Circus" proves this.

Saying that this film is boring is perfectly ridiculous: there are many moments of pure Chaplin genius and, if nothing else, you simply must see this film for the tightrope-walking scene. No, it's not trick photography: that's really Charlie tightrope walking with no stuntmen of any kind. If THAT'S not exciting, I don't know what is.

Oh, and just as a side note, this film was made during a time when Charlie was going through a very dirty and very public divorce-- his ex successful at having his funds frozen during the divorce, he was sued for a million in back-taxes and faced possible jail time, AND the ENTIRE SET to the circus burned down in a fire.

He most definitely deserved the special Oscar he received for this film. That's right: OSCAR.



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See more (169 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Circus (1928)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Tightrope walking scene is the funniest scene on film kyluvjesus
Am I completely nuts?? smiles4891
The Donkey sherylshannon
THE CIRCUS' reputation CHARLIE-89
Restored prints of Chaplin Films on the big screen in L.A.! sidgrauman
Merna Kennedy Chance-the-gardener
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