Review of The Circus (1928) by Nicholas F — 09 Nov 2010

Great from beginning to end! Perhaps I will love Chaplin if this is considered one of his lesser films. His character was so lovable and most importantly, which most silent films seem to lack, everything is full of emotions in every scene rather than focused on just one. If the jokes are going, he packs in a joke on top of another joke and adds more characters we care about. Take for example the scene where Chaplin is in the cage with the lion; we fear for his life but his reactions are funny, he knocks a water bin over, and his love interest comes by and sees him in trouble then faints. Everything is quickly moving in the scene which makes it that much funnier. I feel like that's what Buster Keaton was missing in The Cameraman: he would be stuck on one emotion and couldn't move on. I felt so bad for Keaton's character that I couldn't laugh at his problems. Chaplin on the other hand made himself a sad character, but he can also fend for himself so we can laugh at his problems. Plus his misfortunes are creating opportunities for himself. I think this movie must have had the first "JD moment"; when the tight rope walker is hitting on the girl Chaplin imagines himself getting up and hitting in him the face then covering him in dirt, but unfortunately they go back to reality and he is still sitting there watching his girl get hit on.

**SPOILERS**.

The ending was so bittersweet. I wanted Chaplin and his love interest to end up together! But alas, he was thrown out of the circus for good and when the girl comes along he realizes he can't take care of her. He loves her so much that he would rather see what's best for her happen than to actually be with her. Such a tough pill to swallow. Chaplin actually goes back to get the tight rope walker to ask her to marry him so that he can take care of her and protect her from her father. I think the saddest part of it all is when Chaplin tells the tight rope walker and his new wife that he is going to tag along in the last car, but everyone leaves and he watches them go. Chaplin knew how to tell a great story and keep everyone entertained. The Circus is a pretty solid flick!