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The Circus Clown

  • 19341934
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
243
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Joe E. Brown in The Circus Clown (1934)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
Trying to follow in his father's footsteps, the son of an ex-acrobat runs off and joins a circus, getting a job cleaning up after the animals.Trying to follow in his father's footsteps, the son of an ex-acrobat runs off and joins a circus, getting a job cleaning up after the animals.Trying to follow in his father's footsteps, the son of an ex-acrobat runs off and joins a circus, getting a job cleaning up after the animals.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
243
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ray Enright
  • Writers
    • Bert Kalmar(story)
    • Harry Ruby(story)
    • Tom Buckingham(revisions)
  • Stars
    • Joe E. Brown
    • Patricia Ellis
    • Dorothy Burgess
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ray Enright
  • Writers
    • Bert Kalmar(story)
    • Harry Ruby(story)
    • Tom Buckingham(revisions)
  • Stars
    • Joe E. Brown
    • Patricia Ellis
    • Dorothy Burgess
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Joe E. Brown in The Circus Clown (1934)
    Joe E. Brown and Patricia Ellis in The Circus Clown (1934)
    Joe E. Brown and Patricia Ellis in The Circus Clown (1934)
    Joe E. Brown in The Circus Clown (1934)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joe E. Brown
    Joe E. Brown
    • Happy Howardas Happy Howard…
    Patricia Ellis
    Patricia Ellis
    • Aliceas Alice
    Dorothy Burgess
    Dorothy Burgess
    • Babeas Babe
    Don Dillaway
    Don Dillaway
    • Jackas Jack
    Gordon Westcott
    Gordon Westcott
    • Frankas Frank
    Charles C. Wilson
    Charles C. Wilson
    • Sheldonas Sheldon
    • (as Charles Wilson)
    Harry Woods
    Harry Woods
    • Ajaxas Ajax
    Ronnie Cosby
    Ronnie Cosby
    • Dickieas Dickie
    John Sheehan
    John Sheehan
    • Moxleyas Moxley
    Spencer Charters
    Spencer Charters
    • Kingsleyas Kingsley
    Tom Dugan
    Tom Dugan
    • Macas Mac
    • (scenes deleted)
    Earle Hodgins
    Earle Hodgins
    • Circus Barkeras Circus Barker
    Gordon Evans
    • Undetermined Roleas Undetermined Role
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Unimpressed Man in Audienceas Unimpressed Man in Audience
    • (uncredited)
    Ernest Clark
    • Vaudeville Actas Vaudeville Act
    • (uncredited)
    Alfredo Codona
    • Trapeze Aerialistas Trapeze Aerialist
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Copeland
    • Husband in Audienceas Husband in Audience
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Fetherston
    • Circus Workeras Circus Worker
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Ray Enright
    • Writers
      • Bert Kalmar(story) (screenplay)
      • Harry Ruby(story) (screenplay)
      • Tom Buckingham(revisions) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to a review summary in the New York Times, Joe E. Brown was affectionately pawed by a lion during one take, requiring 6 stitches in his arm. The article also points out that Brown did his own "spectacular acrobatics" - no doubles were used.
    • Connections
      Referenced in American Experience: The Battle Over Citizen Kane (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      The Billboard
      (1901) (uncredited)

      Music by John Klohr

      Played during the opening credits

      Also played when the trapeze artists enter the arena as part of the parade

    User reviews8

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Joe E. Brown Flips, Flies and Twirls
    This is the first Joe E. Brown film I've seen, other than "Some Like It Hot"( which, of course, falls into a whole other category, that of "classic")and although it is a rather dated and pedestrian comedy of the 30s, it has a certain innocent charm. I especially appreciated the fact that he did most of the stunts in the film. He had been a circus acrobat embarking on a film career, and it is apparent. A subplot involving a female impersonator, and "Happy's" infatuation with her/him is not as outre as it sounds, becoming merely a prank played on him by the (clearly) masculine impersonator. Still, an interesting curio in terms of what was highly popular with moviegoers of the mid-1930s, and a movie younger kids might find quite hilarious.
    helpful•9
    2
    • rsyung
    • Apr 17, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 30, 1934 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sawdust
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • First National Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Joe E. Brown in The Circus Clown (1934)
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